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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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We’re coming off one of the wildest weeks in stock market history. How are retirees reacting to these massive swings? How should you adjust your FIRE portfolio in case there are even more turbulent times ahead? We’re chatting with someone who’s in the loop!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Emma von Weise, certified financial planner (CFP), returns to the show to give her perspective on the recent stock market volatility. She’ll share what her clients are doing and the course of action she recommends for those who are worried about their nest egg crumbling.
Times like these prove you need an investment plan. If you don’t already have one, Emma will show you how to create it. You’ll also learn how a few years of cash distributions can help you protect your investments and keep you from selling stocks at a loss. Are bonds actually a “safe haven” for investors? We’ll make sense of rising yields and, finally, share a tax strategy YOU can take advantage of during a stock market slide to trim your taxable income!
In This Episode We Cover
How to adjust your FIRE portfolio after recent stock market volatility
How cash distributions protect retirees from selling stocks low in a downturn
Why you need to create an investment plan today (if you don’t have one!)
How to balance “growth” and “safety” in your investment portfolio
Why bond yields have spiked after a huge sell-off (and whether you should buy)
Offsetting capital gains from stocks through tax-loss harvesting
And So Much More!
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BiggerPockets Money 120 - Are FIRE Naysayers Bad at Math? Yes. with Michael Kitces
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Early retirement in your 50s is a dream for most Americans, but today’s guest is sharing how she could have retired in her 40s, a decade earlier, if she had avoided these FIRE “traps.” Yes, it IS possible to FIRE in your 40s even with much of your money in retirement accounts. “But I thought you couldn’t take out that money until you’re 59.5?” That’s where you’re wrong, and today, Diana Hummel is showing YOU how to withdraw from your retirement accounts even earlier.
In her mid-30s, Diana had a huge wake-up call. Her parents, who had just retired, suddenly passed away. This lit a flame that would eventually ignite a full FIRE under Diana to live life on her terms well before the standard retirement age. She and her husband saved diligently, invested heavily, and were able to quit their jobs at 45, starting two businesses, one of which broke even while the other turned a profit.
The problem? Diana most likely had enough money to retire once she quit her W2, but she didn’t realize she could FIRE so early. Thanks to Roth conversions, 72(t) strategies, and smart tax planning, Diana is fully retired and ready to teach you how to FIRE faster!
In This Episode We Cover
How to withdraw from retirement accounts early and FIRE in your 40s or 50s
The 72(t) strategy explained and using your 401(k) to retire early (seriously!)
Early retirement healthcare and how Diana is covering it with pre-existing conditions
Retiring during a stock market crash and how new retirees can handle 2025’s bumpy market
The biggest FIRE regret Diana has and a lesson you should learn before you retire (early)
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-630
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Is it possible to reach FIRE by 45, even on a teacher’s salary or an average income? Today’s guest is proving that, yes, you can retire early, regardless of your paycheck. It may be a little harder than it is for high-income earners, but with frugality, discipline, and smart investments, regular people can achieve FIRE!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! At just 31 years old, Kat has been diligently maxing out her retirement accounts, saving a ton of cash, and making enormous strides towards retiring by age 45. Most would say this is a long shot for someone with a teacher’s salary, but thanks to a high savings rate and savvy financial decisions, Kat is right on track to reach her lofty goal. The real question is, should she?
Kat will need to grind for the next 15 years to retire on her original timeline. Is it worth taking an extra couple of years to reach financial independence if it prevents burnout? In this episode, Mindy and Amberly will break down Kat’s options, help her avoid the dreaded middle-class trap, and give her a roadmap for achieving FIRE quickly while also enjoying the journey!
In This Episode We Cover
Kat’s roadmap to FIRE by age 45 (on a teacher’s salary!)
Why you DON’T need to be a high income earner to retire early
When to stop contributing to retirement accounts and pivot to other investments
Giving yourself financial flexibility by saving cash (and how to deploy it)
When you should (and shouldn’t) pay off your mortgage early
Why it’s worth taking extra time to enjoy the journey to financial independence
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
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The Fioneers Coast FI Calculator
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BiggerPockets Money 259 - Pensions 101: Are Pensions Worth It? w/ Grumpus Maximus
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-629
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Tariffs are now on PAUSE! And just like that, the stock market is flying back up again. Is this a signal for us all to breathe a sigh of relief, or is more market volatility coming our way? It’s been a wild week so far, and it’s only Thursday! Just yesterday, President Trump paused new reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, with markets slingshotting back up as a response. So, are we doing anything different with our investments now that things are slightly more stable?
We’ve got Amberly, Mindy, and Scott (with a mustache!) on the show to discuss how these new tariff pauses have affected their investments, portfolio, and FIRE investing plans. Amberly, our Canadian of the group, brings a valuable view as someone who is directly seeing how US tariffs impacted her country. Will America remain the economic superpower we’ve long been, or will tariffed countries quickly form new alliances? Is that good for YOUR future investments?
What about interest rates? With more theories that President Trump is making these moves to lower rates, could your next mortgage get more affordable? Or, will lower rates plus tariffs trigger serious inflation—or potentially even deflation? This news brings a lot of “what ifs,” and if you’re confused, fret not; we’ll explain it in this bonus episode.
In This Episode We Cover
The new tariff pause and why markets sprung up (massively!) on Wednesday
How we’re investing (right now) during all this stock market hysteria
The long-term trade risks that affect all Americans after these recent tariff proposals
Will interest rates fall with this much volatility; could a new Fed chair force lower rates?
One major flaw with the “manufacturing boost” theory that comes with new tariffs
Incoming inflation AND deflation risks as prices rise but American budgets shrink
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-628
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The path to FIRE (financial independence, retire early) isn’t easy. You’re working a lot, saving a lot, all while seeing many of your friends out traveling, buying new cars and bigger homes, leaving you feeling isolated on the path to early retirement. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are FIRE freaks, just like you, all over the country, and before you quit the path to FIRE and start spending to impress your friends, we have a crucial piece of advice: find your FIRE community!
Mindy and Carl just came back from the EconoMe Conference, a three-day celebration of those chasing financial independence and early retirement, where you can meet new FI friends and rediscover why you’re after FIRE in the first place. But you DON’T have to wait until next year to go to a FIRE event; we’re sharing exactly how to find your FIRE tribe today.
Attending these events was one of the—if not THE—single most impactful parts of Mindy and Carl’s journey to early retirement as they often unlock new FIRE strategies you didn’t know were possible, allow you to grind side-by-side with FIRE-minded people just like you, and give you a sense of strong community that’s behind you EVERY step of the way, even during life after FIRE!
Do NOT skip out on this, or you could risk your FIRE!
In This Episode We Cover
The #1 way to stay motivated while on the path to financial freedom
The best big and small FIRE events to attend this year and next
What to do if you’re introverted and struggle at live events with many people
How to find your local FI meetup so you can make new FI friends
Want to meet Mindy and Carl in person? We’re sharing how you can!
And So Much More!
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There’s no arguing that real estate and stocks are the two most proven ways to build wealth, but which one comes out on top in a race to FIRE? Stay tuned as we put these investment vehicles to the test and show you the fastest path to early retirement!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Mindy and guest co-host Amberly Grant are pitting real estate investing and stock investing against each other to determine which of these popular investments is most FIRE-friendly. The best part? They don’t exactly agree! First, Amberly will defend the position of real estate investing. From house hacking and live-in flips to out-of-state investing, there are several strategies you can use to create monthly cash flow, build wealth through appreciation, and save a fortune on taxes!
Meanwhile, Mindy will defend her time-tested stock investing strategy. Along the way, she’ll share the many advantages of passive investing, compare 60/40 and 90/10 stock-to-bond investment portfolios, and show you the ideal portfolio mix for those who plan to retire on the 4% rule. YOU decide which of our financially independent hosts has the strongest case!
In This Episode We Cover
Real estate versus stocks (and which will help you FIRE faster)
How YOU can “live for free” with the house hacking strategy
Saving hundreds of thousands in taxes with the live-in flip strategy
How to turn your rental properties passive by investing out of state
The perfect stock portfolio allocation for retiring on the 4% rule
And So Much More!
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You may not make six figures, but you want to achieve FIRE and retire early. You might be struggling to get by, let alone saving and investing to hit your FIRE number. If it seems impossible, you should take a page from Bryce Stewart’s book. He was a sixth-grade school teacher, making $44,000/year, underwater on his condo purchase, worrying about the bills with one baby and another one on the way. A decade later, he was retired, with more passive income than he could spend. Today, we’re sharing how he did it.
Your income is NOT the limiting factor to you achieving FIRE, no matter how much it seems that way. Bryce took a slow and sacrifice-heavy path to early retirement and now makes more than 300% of the combined income of his and his wife’s teacher salaries. He was frugal without a doubt, but focusing on income-generating opportunities is what really slingshotted his net worth, passive income, and FIRE timeline.
So, what money move should you make RIGHT now to turn your median salary into investments that pay you passive income every month? What sacrifices should you be making to put your family in a FIRE financial position? What was the one purchase that launched Bryce’s path to FIRE? Whether you’re making under, over, or around six figures, you can retire earlier by taking Bryce’s advice.
In This Episode We Cover
The one investment Bryce made that helped him get to FIRE in 10 years
Building multiple income streams so you’re NOT reliant on your job
Why house hacking (living for free) is the ULTIMATE FIRE super-charger
Investments to make with a low/median income that will get you to FIRE faster
The #1 reason you should NOT tell your partner about your FIRE dreams…yet
And So Much More!
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Would you delay your early retirement for years to feel safer and secure once you FIRE? That’s what Mark Trautman did, FIRE-ing before discovering the FIRE movement was even a thing. While he could have retired in his 40s, Mark pushed his retirement date to 50, retiring with a conservative withdrawal schedule that even beats the 4% rule. But, thanks to being invested throughout his retirement, Mark has blown past even his Fat FIRE dreams, spending what he wants, when he wants, without a worry!
But it wasn’t the money that made Mark thankful for FIRE. Mark was able to be right next to his wife and even his father during their last days, being fully dedicated to them and not worrying about a job or paycheck he had to go after. This is the TRUE point of FIRE, and living like Mark could have the same powerful impact on you.
Speaking of paychecks, Mark’s “FI paychecks” are fueling his retirement, so much so that he barely (if ever) needs to withdraw from his retirement portfolio. How is this completely passive cash flow funding his life? Copy Mark’s strategy, and you could be Fat FIRE by 50, too!
In This Episode We Cover
The “FI paychecks” you should set up once you’re near early retirement
Why FIRE is about MORE than money; it’s about time with the ones you love
Mark’s “Fun Bucket” for worry-free spending on life-changing experiences
Why delaying your early retirement could help you FIRE without money anxiety
The one inflation/market downturn hedge Mark uses that provides him with passive income
Early retirement healthcare and how Mark pays for health insurance without employment
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
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How to Plan for Early Retirement NOW! | Life After FIRE w/Justin Peters
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How to Plan for Early Retirement NOW! | Life After FIRE w/Justin Peters
(00:00) Intro
(00:53) FIRE at 50!
(04:37) Scared to Withdraw for Retirement?
(07:59) Super Conservative FI Strategy
(12:34) The FI "Paycheck"
(13:25) Spending in Early Retirement
(15:14) Time Freedom to Care For His Wife
(21:42) The "Fun" Bucket
(25:24) Market Corrections Are GOOD!
(29:41) Add Treasuries to Your FIRE Portfolio?
(32:09) FIRE Healthcare
(34:46) The FIRE Lifestyle
(37:52) Connect with Mark!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-624
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Julie Rose “semi-retired” at just 36 years old with only $500K, trading her corporate job for sunrise safaris in Africa, beach walks in Bali, and mid-day hikes in Mexico.
With “Barista FIRE,” you can retire with a lower FIRE number, still work (minimally) doing what you love, and have almost complete time freedom over your life. Why have FIRE when you can “semi-retire” decades earlier? Plus, your retirement nest egg will be growing in the background, all while you do what you want, when you want, with who you want. Sounds like a dream life, right? Well, you’re not far from it already!
After barely scraping by (even with a good job), Julie knew something needed to change, but she wasn’t ready for it. It wasn’t until she got laid off multiple times that she realized it was time to put her financial future in her own hands. This led her down the FIRE movement rabbit hole, getting almost addicted to saving and investing, and finding herself in a position to quit her job and do what she really loves: travel and get PAID to plan trips for others.
Now, she’s Barista FIRE (FIRE with the help of a side hustle), living nomadically for a fraction of the cost of a basic life in the United States!
In This Episode We Cover
“Barista FIRE” and the faster way to semi-retire early with a lower FIRE number
Why consumerism WON’T fulfill you, but it will make you broke
Using side hustles to supercharge your savings rate and investing goals
Building your Barista FIRE income stream BEFORE you quit your job
Early retirement healthcare and how Julie pays just $40/month for coverage
Living your best life abroad for a fraction of the cost of living in the States
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-623
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The stock market is shifting, and your portfolio needs to change NOW if you want to reach or stay FIRE (financial independence, retire early). Many early retirees are sitting anxiously, watching their net worth fall by 10% (or more), making each withdrawal from their portfolio increasingly risky. If you’re close to financial independence or are retired early already, you CANNOT risk losing the gains you’ve worked so hard for. This is what we’re doing NOW to keep our FIRE portfolios crash-resistant.
Last month, Scott talked about his big decision to sell off a chunk of his index fund portfolio in fears of overvalued stock prices. What followed? A significant stock sell-off, with some major indexes falling 10% already. Scott urges those close to FIRE to “lock in” their gains and avoid unnecessary risks to push their FIRE numbers higher.
So, what did Scott move his money into, and should you do the same? Should you switch to bonds for a safer but lower-return correction hedge? What happens if this stock downturn lasts years? Should someone in their 20s or 30s, just starting on the FIRE path, stop investing or double down? We’re answering all of your burning FIRE questions today!
In This Episode We Cover
Why Amy uses a financial advisor to help manage her money in retirement
Amy’s journey to financial independence, losing her husband, and retiring early
Assets under management (AUM) versus fee-only advisors (and which one to hire!)
How to reach your FIRE number sooner through “experimental deprivation”
Why you need to have regular money check-ins with your significant other
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
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(00:00) Stock Market Update
(06:44) Close to FIRE? Do This
(14:41) Fix Your FIRE Portfolio
(17:20) Lock-In Your FIRE!
(19:02) Scott’s 2025 FIRE Portfolio
(21:30) Already Retired/FIRE?
(23:46) What About Taxes?
(28:49) What if This Crash Lasts?
(35:00) Start Shifting Toward Retirement
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-622
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