Stay ConnectedFor those who have money… or want more of it!
Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench (from BiggerPocketsMoney.com) weekly for the BiggerPockets Money Podcast. Each week, financial experts Mindy and Scott interview unique and powerful thought leaders about how to earn more, keep more, spend smarter, and reach financial independence.
Copyright: © Copyright © 2024 BiggerPockets. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is for general informational purposes only. In no event will BiggerPockets be liable for any loss or damage derived from the information provided.
Should you sell your house right now or turn it into a rental property? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench dive deep into one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make with their guest Sean. He is sitting on serious equity but isn't sure what his next move should be. We break down his entire financial situation using a custom spreadsheet model that analyzes net worth, mortgage rates, rental income potential, cash flow projections, and long-term wealth building strategies. This isn't just theory—we're crunching real numbers to show you exactly how to think through this decision.
We examine market conditions, tax implications, opportunity costs, and the hidden expenses most people forget when they become landlords. Whether you're dealing with a primary residence, investment property, or house hack situation, this episode gives you a replicable decision-making process you can use for your own real estate choices.
By the end of this episode, you'll understand the financial trade-offs between liquidity and long-term appreciation, how to calculate true rental yields, and when holding onto property actually destroys wealth instead of building it. If you're facing a similar decision or planning your real estate exit strategy, this is the most comprehensive breakdown you'll find anywhere.
00:00 Should You Sell or Keep Your House?
01:17 Financial Overview: Net Worth, Income & Equity
02:33 Mortgage Rate Analysis and Current Housing Market Conditions
03:07 Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
13:41 Hidden Rental Property Expenses and Long-Term Investment Returns
19:30 How Selling vs Renting Impacts Your Cash Flow and Net Worth
21:11 Net Worth Projections: Sell Now vs Hold 5, 10, 20 Years
23:27 Rental Property Cash Flow vs Home Sale Proceeds Analysis
24:29 Best Time to Sell Your House
26:26 Which Option Builds More Wealth?
31:14 Final Verdict: Should You Sell Your House Now?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if you could take a year off at 31 and still retire early? Alex Morales, also known as Girl Chasing Wealth, is doing exactly that. In this BiggerPockets Money episode, she sits down with Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to reveal how she's funding a year-long sabbatical while staying on track to achieve financial independence by 44, all on a median salary in a high-cost-of-living area. Alex's journey proves you don't need a six-figure income or to live in a low-cost city to make FIRE work—you just need the right strategies.
Alex shares her unconventional approach to building wealth, including managing roommates to slash housing costs, ruthlessly cutting expenses that don't align with her values, and building side income streams for flexibility. But this isn't just about saving money—it's about designing a life that lets you take meaningful breaks without derailing your financial goals. Whether you're burned out, curious about sabbaticals, or convinced early retirement requires constant hustle, this conversation will change how you think about the path to financial freedom.
This Episode Covers:
And SO much more!
00:00 Taking a Year Off at 31 Without Ruining FIRE
01:39 How She Started
03:17 The Lifestyle Cuts That Actually Worked
07:46 Roommates Saved Her $30K/Year
12:10 Her Exact Investment Strategy Revealed
14:29 Why She Left Her Job
15:50 The Return Plan: Higher Pay, Same Freedom
22:30 What She's Actually Doing on Sabbatical
32:06 Follow Her FIRE Journey!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money Podcast as they welcome retirement tax experts Sean Mullaney, The FI Tax Guy, and Cody Garrett, a certified financial planner, to break down their game-changing retirement drawdown order of operations. This isn't your typical retirement advice - it's a strategic blueprint that could save early retirees and traditional retirees thousands in taxes while ensuring their money lasts a lifetime.
Discover the four critical retirement drawdown fundamentals that form the backbone of any successful retirement strategy, plus advanced tactics for optimizing your tax burden, managing healthcare costs, and timing Roth conversions for maximum impact. Sean and Cody don't just explain what to do - they walk through exactly when and why each strategy matters most, covering everything from your retirement date through the challenging widow and widower years.
This episode covers:
And SO much more!
00:00 Retirement Drawdown Strategies
01:22 Fundamentals of Retirement Drawdown
03:37 Phases of Retirement and Taxable Accounts
07:23 Managing Income and Premium Tax Credits
09:22 Roth Conversions and Standard Deductions
19:52 Hidden Roth IRA and Tax Planning
28:36 Navigating Healthcare Subsidies and Early Retirement
29:26 Balancing Benefits for Early Retirees and Self-Employed
33:34 Strategic Tax Planning for Retirement
35:50 Understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
36:59 Mitigating the Impact of RMDs
40:51 The Widow's Tax Trap and Effective Tax Planning
46:30 Connect with Sean and Cody!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by tax experts Sean Mullaney and Cody Garrett to reveal how early retirement can actually be your smartest tax strategy. The conversation immediately tackles one of the biggest misconceptions holding people back from FIRE - the fear that retiring early means facing higher taxes. Instead, they demonstrate how lower retirement income typically translates to significantly lower tax bills, completely flipping the conventional wisdom about retirement tax planning.
The discussion dives deep into their comprehensive approach to tax planning for early retirement, centered around the powerful concept of "Pay Tax When You Pay Less Tax." This isn't just theory - they break down practical, tax-efficient strategies that can save you thousands, including optimizing traditional 401k contributions, maximizing Roth IRA conversions, and strategically managing taxable investment accounts. These aren't complex maneuvers requiring a team of accountants; they're accessible strategies that any early retiree can implement.
Beyond the big-picture tax strategies, this episode tackles the real-world challenges that derail many FIRE plans. Learn how to build robust emergency reserves that won't trigger unnecessary tax consequences, handle unexpected income disruptions without destroying your tax efficiency, and leverage advanced techniques like qualified charitable distributions to further reduce your tax burden. Whether you're years away from retirement or already making the transition, this episode provides actionable insights to minimize your lifetime tax burden while maximizing your financial independence.
The discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Mindy, Scott, and the BiggerPockets Money podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services.
00:00 Taxes in Early Retirement
00:54 Debunking Tax Myths in Early Retirement
03:03 Understanding Taxable Income in Retirement
04:10 Effective Tax Strategies for Early Retirees
05:37 Capital Gains and Tax Rates
12:25 Tax Planning Tools and Calculators
23:43 Tax Optimization Strategies
24:27 Debate: 401k vs Roth IRA
24:56 Order of Operations for Financial Independence
25:42 Roth IRA Conversion Strategies
32:33 The Middle Class Trap
39:09 Tax Strategies for New Investors
44:21 Connect with Sean and Cody
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast as they dive into the different types of FIRE. Financial Independence, Retire Early isn't a one-size-fits-all approach - it's evolved into multiple distinct paths, each designed to meet different lifestyles, risk tolerances, and financial goals. This comprehensive exploration will help you understand which version of financial independence makes the most sense for your unique situation.
From traditional FIRE to coast, lean, barista, chubby, and fat FIRE, each approach offers its own timeline, savings requirements, and lifestyle implications. Whether you're drawn to the minimalist appeal of lean FIRE or you're more interested in fat FIRE's promise of maintaining a luxurious lifestyle in retirement, understanding these distinctions is crucial for mapping out your financial future. Scott and Mindy break down the math, mindset, and practical considerations behind each path, giving you the clarity to choose your FIRE strategy and start building a personalized roadmap to financial independence.
This Episode Covers:
And SO much more!
00:00 The 6 Types of FIRE
01:12 Traditional FIRE
04:38 Coast FIRE
09:43 Barista FIRE
13:11 Lean FIRE
18:15 Chubby FIRE
22:07 Fat FIRE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Discover how geo-arbitrage can double your investing power without requiring a raise, career change, or lottery win! In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Daniel Mills to explore how remote workers can live lavishly on a middle-class salary by strategically leveraging location differences. This isn't just about moving somewhere cheaper - it's about unlocking a completely different financial trajectory through smart geographic choices.
Daniel shares his journey to financial independence while living in Japan, breaking down his simplified investment portfolio, dramatically lower cost of living, and the tax strategies that allowed him to write off six-figure incomes. From navigating international investing challenges to discovering unique real estate opportunities, Daniel's story demonstrates how living abroad can accelerate your path to FIRE in ways you might never have imagined.
This Episode Will Cover:
How geo-arbitrage can double your investment power on the same income
Daniel's path from English teacher to international real estate investor
Simplified investment strategies that work from abroad
Tax advantages and write-off opportunities for expats
Real-world cost of living comparisons between Japan and the U.S.
Practical challenges of investing internationally and how to overcome them
Cultural integration strategies for successful expat living
Whether geo-arbitrage is right for your FIRE journey
And SO much more!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What if we told you that your path to financial independence isn't about picking the perfect stocks, timing the market, or earning a massive salary? In this revealing episode of BiggerPockets Money, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench cut through all the noise to focus on what actually matters: your savings rate. This isn't just theoretical advice—Mindy and Scott get personal, sharing their own savings journeys, including the costly mistakes they made and the pivotal breakthroughs that transformed their financial lives.
This episode completely reframes the conversation around saving money. Instead of extreme penny-pinching that breeds resentment, Mindy and Scott explore "creative frugality"—intelligent strategies that help you save significantly more without feeling deprived. From small incremental changes that compound into thousands of dollars annually to innovative approaches for slashing major expenses, you'll walk away with immediately actionable tactics that prove financial independence isn't about sacrifice—it's about smart optimization.
This Episode Covers:
Why your savings rate matters more than your investment returns or salary
Mindy and Scott's personal savings rate journeys and biggest mistakes
Lifestyle optimization strategies that boost savings without reducing happiness
The psychology behind sustainable high savings rates
Creative approaches to cutting your three biggest expenses
Why starting a side business accelerates your FIRE timeline
Investment strategies that support aggressive savers
How to increase your savings rate at different career stages
Common savings rate mistakes that derail FIRE progress
How small changes compound into life-changing financial results
And SO much more!
00:00 How to Supercharge Your Savings Rate
01:14 Mindy and Scott’s Savings Rate
03:40 Strategies for High Savings Rates
11:50 Creative Ways to Reduce Expenses
20:02 Increasing Income
26:06 We want to hear from you!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pete Adeney, aka Mr. Money Mustache, joins BiggerPockets Money hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to break down the shockingly simple math behind early retirement. The man who started the FIRE movement and retired at 30 reveals why most people are overcomplicating financial independence—and why your savings rate is literally the only number that determines when you can quit your job.
Pete doesn't just share theory—he walks through the real strategies, investment decisions, and mindset shifts that allowed him to achieve financial freedom in his thirties. Whether you're new to FIRE or looking to optimize your current approach, this episode cuts through the noise to deliver the foundational principles that actually work.
This Episode Covers:
The one metric that determines your entire FIRE timeline
Why saving 50% gets you to FI in just 17 years (and the math behind it)
How Pete retired at 30 and what his portfolio looked like
The psychology of frugality and why it's actually liberating
Pete's current thoughts on real estate investing for FIRE
His take on Bitcoin and alternative assets in a FIRE portfolio
Common FIRE mistakes that derail people's progress
Why your income level matters less than you think
Practical strategies for increasing your savings rate immediately
The mindset shifts that make extreme saving sustainable
And SO much more!
00:00 The Basics of Early Retirement
01:02 The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
01:21 Understanding Your Savings Rate
05:41 Pre-Tax Savings and 401k Considerations
11:06 The 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate
13:09 Seven Levels of Safety in Early Retirement
28:44 The $50,000 Earner
31:51 Raising Kids on a Budget
35:17 Health Insurance in Early Retirement
41:39 Real Estate as a Retirement Strategy
46:41 Bitcoin and Speculative Investments
51:19 Connect with Mr. Money Mustache
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, we're diving into an incredible success story. Meet Beau, a retired military professional who built a massive real estate empire and achieved financial independence in his thirties. But here's the twist: even with a winning formula, Beau wants his investments to work even HARDER while he works even LESS.
In this Finance Friday episode, Beau opens up his entire financial playbook with hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench. We're talking rental properties generating serious cash flow, private lending deals that most investors don't even know exist, and tax strategies so advanced they'll make your accountant jealous. This isn't your typical "I bought a duplex" story—this is next-level wealth building.
If you're serious about real estate investing and want to see what's possible with the right strategy and execution, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Beau's complete real estate portfolio breakdown and current cash flow numbers
Advanced private lending strategies that generate consistent returns
Tax optimization techniques for real estate heavy portfolios
How to transition from active to passive real estate investing
Strategic property sale timing and 1031 exchange considerations
The pros and cons of private money lending versus traditional investments
Portfolio diversification strategies for real estate investors
How military discipline translated into investment success
Specific steps to make your real estate investments more hands-off
Risk management strategies for high-net-worth real estate portfolios
And SO much more!
00:00 Beau’s FIRE Journey
02:43 Beau’s FI Number
04:52 Exploring Passive Income Options
09:53 Private Lending and Real Estate Portfolio Analysis
19:17 Evaluating Property Performance and Future Plans
28:54 Exploring Arbitrage in Real Estate Lending
33:32 Amortization and Long-Term Financial Planning
36:34 Balancing Private Lending and Real Estate Investments
44:32 Tax Strategies and Portfolio Diversification
54:51 Connect with Beau!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ever wondered how financial experts ACTUALLY manage their own money? Mindy Jensen opens her real financial accounts LIVE on this episode!
In this groundbreaking BiggerPockets Money podcast episode, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench deliver unprecedented financial transparency. Mindy tracks her personal net worth and finances in real-time using Monarch Money, giving you an authentic behind-the-scenes look at how a financial expert truly manages her money.
This Episode Covers:
Whether you're drowning in financial chaos or ready to level up your money management game, this episode shows you exactly how to centralize and streamline your finances like a true professional.
00:39 Why We Love Monarch Money
01:50 Tracking Your Net Worth
06:29 Setting Up Your Monarch Money Account
16:39 Budgeting How To
22:06 Tracking Spending
25:05 Total Net Worth
27:48 Setting Up Monarch Money
35:11 Sign up for Monarch Money Today!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
