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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.
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Retire earlier. Spend more. Live better. For most people, these sound like mutually exclusive goals—you can pick one, maybe two, but certainly not all three. Financial planner Aubrey Williams is here to prove that conventional wisdom wrong.
Joining BiggerPockets Money hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench, Aubrey introduces his revolutionary guardrails strategy that completely flips traditional retirement advice on its head. Instead of the rigid, fear-based approach that dominates most retirement planning, Aubrey's method shows you exactly how to create flexible spending rules that respond to real market conditions.
This isn't just another investment strategy—it's a complete mindset shift. Aubrey walks through the psychological barriers that keep retirees from actually enjoying their money, then provides the practical tools and historical evidence you need to overcome them. Get ready for a masterclass in turning retirement anxiety into genuine retirement confidence, backed by decades of market data and real-world application.
00:00 Rethinking Early Retirement
01:24 Adjusting Spending in Retirement
02:30 Myths of Financial Independence
04:48 Tools for Decumulation
11:18 Guardrails for Safe Withdrawal
24:23 The Risks of Underspending
29:15 Introducing Risk-Based Guardrails
29:27 Building a Sample Portfolio
30:16 Adjusting Spending Based on Portfolio Performance
32:07 Historical Analysis and Guardrails
54:41 Connect with Aubrey!
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Fear that early retirement is out of the question because you have too much debt? It's not game over. Whether you're debt-free or still chipping away at your student loans, today's guest is proof that FIRE is never too far out of reach—even when life throws you a curveball that leaves you with $90,000 in debt! Welcome back to the "BiggerPockets Money" podcast! Aubrey Williams thought his financial world was crumbling when his divorce was finalized, leaving him staring down $90,000 in debt. Most would assume this spells doom for financial independence, but Aubrey knew he could dig his way out by increasing his income, cutting costs, and staying laser-focused on his goals. In just eight years, he snowballed out of debt and toward his long-term goal—achieving financial independence at 45. Now that he's turned his financial ship around, he's focused on building wealth for the future. Tune in to learn how he transformed his finances into a comeback story, why he refuses to let setbacks define his dreams, and what his path to FIRE looks like after starting over! 01:05 FI After 90k in Debt 04:32 How to Fast Track FI 05:51 The Path to Savings 14:21 Financial Pillars 19:47 Career Shifts During FI 32:45 The Value of Financial Planning 42:39 Entrepreneurial Journey and Lessons Learned 47:16 Connect with Aubrey
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Do you think you can't beat the market? David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool, joins the BiggerPockets Money podcast to shatter this limiting belief and reveal why stock picking can supercharge your wealth-building strategy alongside index fund investing.
Despite conventional wisdom warning against individual stock selection, Gardner exposes his proven approach to identifying winning stocks early and holding for long-term gains. This isn't about day trading - it's about building lasting wealth through strategic stock analysis and smart diversification.
This Episode Covers:
Whether you're a beginner investor or looking to refine your strategy, Gardner provides actionable insights on building real wealth through a combination of stock picking and index fund investing. Discover how to transform your investment approach and achieve financial independence faster.
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Are you worried you won't be able to retire at sixty-five? Feeling financially limited in your fifties and need a retirement plan so you can finally stop working? Well, we made this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast just for you. Today, Mindy and Scott are joined by experts Jackie Cummings Koski and Bill Yount from Catching Up to FI to teach you how to retire on time at age sixty-five (or even retire early!) if you're starting from zero with no money to your name.
We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow, focusing specifically on Barb - a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Her situation represents millions of people who find themselves starting over financially in their fifties, whether due to divorce, job loss, or simply never having started saving for retirement.
This Episode Covers:
How to maximize earning potential when reentering the workforce after years away
Emergency fund strategies when you're starting from scratch (and why it's different in your 50s)
The exact investment prioritization order for late-starter retirement savers
How to catch up on retirement savings using IRS catch-up contribution rules
Debt elimination strategies that won't derail your retirement timeline
Creative ways to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality of life
The psychology of starting over financially and maintaining motivation
And SO much more!
00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Financial Challenges at 50
05:44 Understanding the Emotional and Financial Starting Point
12:33 Setting Clear Financial Goals
14:33 Tracking and Measuring Finances
18:29 The Math Behind Early Retirement
20:03 Building the First $25,000
25:34 Side Hustles and Income Strategies
31:54 Downsizing and Financial Adjustments
39:02 House Hacking Strategy
50:17 Investment Strategies for Late Starters
01:04:11 Connect with Jackie & Bill
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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast Mindy and Scott are joined by Beau Webb. Beau went from flying Blackhawk helicopters in the Army to achieving financial independence in his 30s through a diversified investment strategy that goes way beyond basic index funds. Beau built wealth through real estate, and savvy use of military benefits while still crushing it in traditional markets. But here's what makes his story even more powerful - he's living proof that you CAN retire early in just ten years if you save and invest strategically.
His approach blends real estate investing, the smart use of military benefits, and disciplined plays in traditional markets. The result? Multiple streams of income that comfortably cover his lifestyle — all without tapping his retirement accounts. Beau's story proves that you can reach FI in as little as ten years, not by living on rice and beans, but by leveraging creative financing, making intentional moves, and thinking bigger than conventional financial advice allows.
This Episode Covers:
And SO muchmore!
00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest
01:14 Military Background and Financial Beginnings
05:42 First Steps into Real Estate
07:52 House Hacking
10:34 First Duplex Purchase
16:17 Expanding the Real Estate Portfolio
19:42 Diverse Investment Strategies
21:38 Seller Financing
28:28 Expanding the Portfolio
31:49 Achieving Financial Independence
34:36 Life as a Full-Time Investor
37:47 Connect with Beau!
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What does it take to transform from a $27,000-a-year employee into an eight-figure entrepreneur? Hala Taha, founder of YAP Media, joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to reveal the mindset shifts, strategic decisions, and hard-won lessons that built her media empire.
This isn't just another success story – it's a masterclass in entrepreneurial thinking, strategic pivoting, and building scalable systems that generate massive wealth.
This Episode Covers:
And SO much more!
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Coast FI is a fascinating concept that's gaining traction in the financial independence community. And no, to Mindy's disappointment, it doesn't involve having enough money to live beachside (though the lifestyle can be just as relaxing). Unlike the extreme FIRE approach that dominates personal finance blogs—where you're told to save every penny, never eat out, and forget about vacations—Coast FI offers a more sustainable path to early retirement.
Enter Jessica and Corey from The Fioneers, who've proven this gentler approach actually works. When they discovered the FI movement, they were earning just $30,000 combined—hardly a six-figure head start. As their income grew, so did their savings rate, but Jessica quickly realized that climbing the corporate ladder came with a hidden cost. The stress became so overwhelming that she needed a six-month mental health break from work.
That break changed everything. Jessica never returned to traditional employment, instead building her own business. Today, she and Corey have achieved what they call "slow FI"—they're Coast FI with complete time autonomy, still enjoying travel and comfortable living, while on track to retire in their early 50s. They're living proof that financial independence doesn't require sacrificing your mental health, relationships, or joy along the way.
Their story challenges the narrative that you must choose between financial freedom and actually living your life. Sometimes, the scenic route gets you exactly where you need to go.
In This Episode We Cover
Coast FI explained and how it’s a far more enjoyable alternative to standard financial independence
Saving and investing even while making a below-median income salary
Resisting lifestyle creep and how to use pay raises to increase your net worth
The danger of going “too fast to FI” and how retiring too early can be a detriment
Part-time jobs, side hustles, and other ways that you can make more apart from your W2
Spending money to “escape” and how quitting a stressful job could save you more money
And So Much More!
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Tired of the extreme saving grind? What if there was a way to front-load your retirement savings and then "coast" to financial independence without the stress? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down Coast FI - the strategy that lets you stop aggressive saving in your 30s while still retiring comfortably at 65.
Coast FI isn't about retiring early - it's about retiring the anxiety around retirement savings. Once you hit your Coast FI number, compound interest does the heavy lifting while you focus on living your life. This approach offers the perfect middle ground between traditional retirement planning and extreme FIRE strategies.
This Episode Will Cover:
And SO much more!
00:38 What is Coast FIRE
02:16 How to Achieve Coast FI
05:56 Calculate Your Coast FI Number
07:54 Coast Fire by Age
09:21 Passive Income and Coast Fire
19:52 Investment Strategies for Coast Fire
22:40 Investment Order of Operations
28:15 Connect with Scott and Mindy
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Join hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench as they sit down with Cody Garrett, a former musician turned financial planner who discovered the FIRE movement seven years ago and is now just four years away from achieving financial independence by age 40. Cody's unique dual perspective—as both someone actively pursuing FIRE and a professional helping others achieve it—makes this conversation particularly valuable for anyone on their own early retirement journey.
Cody shares the practical strategies, mindset shifts, and career decisions that accelerated his path to financial freedom. He breaks down his personal approach to portfolio management, explains how to avoid the lifestyle inflation trap, and discusses building multiple income streams through business ventures. Whether you're contemplating a career change, looking to optimize your FIRE timeline, or seeking guidance from someone who's walking the walk, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement immediately.
This Episode Covers:
And SO much more!
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In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by real estate expert J Scott to break down the mixed signals dominating today's economic landscape. Are we or we not heading into a recession?
They discuss what's really happening with GDP growth, consumer spending patterns, and the evolving nature of work itself. From the rise of gig economy jobs that complicate traditional employment metrics to the unprecedented challenges facing businesses nationwide, this deep-dive conversation reveals the nuances behind the economic data that directly impacts your financial decisions.
This Episode Covers:
And SO much more!
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