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 isnt 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 can...
Jul 15, 2024•48 min•Ep 500•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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 shor...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 495•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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; bei...
May 20, 2024•51 min•Ep 492•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: 72t, Roth 401ks, Roth IRAs, The Pro Rata Rule, PUQME, HSAs, 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 to be...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 491•Transcript available on Metacast 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 cove...
May 06, 2024•53 min•Ep 490•Transcript available on Metacast 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 its having the flexibility to leave your j...
Apr 29, 2024•59 min•Ep 489•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: salesforce, lifestyle design, testimonials and verification, the hidden job market, and talentstacking. Once again joined by friend of the show Bradley Rice, the owner and creator of TalentStacker, to update us on the value of SalesForce and career pivoting in 2024. While on the FI journey, you are actively creating the life you want to live. For many that means transitioning out of their life-long careers and opting for ones that offer something different and more accustomed to...
Mar 15, 2024•34 min•Ep 482•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: caregiving and FI, retirement planning, reverse mortgages, long-term care, and long-term care insurance. This week we are joined by Danielle Miura to discuss how her experience as a caregiver has impacted her FI mindset, as well as answer listener questions pertaining to planning for your own long-term care while on the path to FI. As you and your loved ones get older, its important to start considering what additional finances they may require. From long-term healthcare to assi...
Mar 11, 2024•45 min•Ep 481•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: optimized exercise, recovering, machine use, increasing your healthspan, and long-term thinking. This week we are joined by Brads friend and personal trainer, Dean Turner, to discuss the changing landscape of strength training, and how principles such as consistency and adherence coupled with rest and recovery can also be applied to both your fitness and FI journey. We often talk about how the path to FI is not just about working towards a monetary goal, but rather creating a be...
Mar 08, 2024•33 min•Ep 480•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: FI in your 20s, the boring middle, compounding, fat FI, compounding, checkpoints, and building a life. This week we are joined by Doug and Carl from the Mile High FI podcast to talk about their respective FI journeys and answer a listener question about pursuing FI in your 20s; as well share some tips for enjoying the experience and navigating times in the journey that can feel a bit slow. While figuring out your FI goal requires you to do some work to figure out your FI number,...
Mar 04, 2024•59 min•Ep 479•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: buy and hold, macroeconomics, interest rates, bond investing, when to sell, mindset, and thinking differently. This week we are joined once again by friend of the show Brian Feroldi to discuss the stock market and investing as we head into 2024. As most of you know by now, keeping your head down and staying the course is a pretty typical investing strategy in the FI community, but it is important to remember personal finance is personal. Depending on your situation, life may req...
Feb 26, 2024•53 min•Ep 478•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: the wonderful ChooseFI community shares advice by taking the hot seat through listener voicemails. Ginger joins the podcast this week for a special Hot Seat episode to listen to some voicemails set in from our listeners, in which our community answered questions that we typically ask our guests when they take the Hot Seat! From discussing favorite books and podcasts, to learning some new tricks and takeaways that have helped you on your FI Journey, its incredible to hear the way...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 477•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: what follows tragedy, the importance of wills and beneficiaries, intestate succession, and probate. This week we are joined by Amy to discuss her personal account and experience with estate planning in the event of an unexpected passing, and what this can look like when plans arent in place. While death can be an uncomfortable topic to think about, its important to take time to garner a plan in place so that your loved ones are both prepared and not overwhelmed in the event of y...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 476•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: taxable accounts, the 72(T), inherited retirement accounts, 457B's, roth conversion ladders, and the rule of 55. This week we are joined by the FI Tax Guy Sean Mullaney to walk through examples and discuss some strategies you could use when accessing your retirement funds early. No matter where you are on your FI journey, there can come a time where retiring early becomes a feasible option, but there can be many stipulations and tax implications that come with withdrawing your f...
Feb 05, 2024•58 min•Ep 475•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: social security, disability, calculating social security, claiming social security, and due diligence. This week we are joined by listener and owner of Financial Security Advocates Dennis Shapiro, to talk thru some of the insights and misconceptions surrounding Social Security Benefits, and what factors and resources you should consider while approaching retirement. The beauty of FI is that it opens up opportunities for you to retire early, but oftentimes we dont consider how re...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 474•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: calculating when you retire, tracking expenses, health insurance, the importance of planning, and health spanning. This week we are rejoined by Teresa as well as Fritz Gilbert of The Retirement Manifesto to walk us through a case study of how to approach retirement while on your FI journey. Its a common question to ask when you can retire or when you can stop working? Luckily there are plans of action and resources available covered in today's episode that will leave you feeling...
Jan 22, 2024•50 min•Ep 473•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: the boring middle, lifestyle design, flow states, moving towards purpose, experiments, and experiences. This week we are rejoined by friend of the podcast Jessica from The Fioneers to the discuss the point of your FI journey known as the Boring Middle, and how through actionable steps and lifestyle design you can turn what feels like a stagnant stage in your FI journey, into one filled with growth and change! When you are well on your path towards reaching your FI goal, it is ea...
Jan 15, 2024•54 min•Ep 472•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: inflation, coast FI, early retirement planning, future tax liability, IRA's and 401k's, and diversification. This week we are rejoined by founder of Measure Twice Money Cody Garrett for another installment of the Mail Bag, where we will be talking through questions from our listeners covering topics ranging from inflation and its implications on your FI number, ACA subsidies and early retirement, as well as the similarities and differences with Roth accounts and future retiremen...
Jan 08, 2024•46 min•Ep 471•Transcript available on Metacast 
