Episodes

  • Do You Need Debt to Reach FIRE? How to Use Leverage to Build Wealth

    Do You Need Debt to Reach FIRE? How to Use Leverage to Build Wealth
    Nov 12 2024
    Is paying off debt or investing (and potentially using more debt) the best way to reach FIRE? The average American has $104,215 in mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and other debt. Where do YOU stand? If the end goal is FIRE, you need a game plan for your debt, in which case this episode is for you! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Not all debt is bad. When used responsibly, it can be a powerful tool that allows you to buy appreciating assets and hedge against inflation. Today, guest co-hosts Kyle Mast and Amanda Wolfe join our panel to share their thoughts on debt. We’ll share how much debt we each have (ranging from zero to millions), how our philosophies on debt have evolved, and how debt can ultimately help you reach FIRE. But that’s not all. We’ll also discuss the types of bad debt that could derail your FIRE journey and the investments you don’t want to be stuck with during an economic downturn. We’ll even get into the most important financial protection against debt risk—savings and reserves—and why these funds should grow proportionally to your debt! In This Episode We Cover Paying off debt versus investing (and which strategy is best for FIRE) Why well-leveraged debt is one of the best long-term hedges against inflation The types of debt that could propel you toward an early retirement “Bad” real estate investments you don’t want to be holding during a market downturn The most irresponsible uses of debt (that you should avoid at all costs!) Why you should always grow your savings and reserves in tandem with debt How much debt WE have (and how our opinions on debt have changed) And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Pay Off Student Loans or Invest in Real Estate: Which Makes You Wealthier? Connect with Kyle Amanda’s Website (00:00) Intro (01:23) How Much Debt WE Have (06:15) Paying Off Debt vs. Investing (13:46) Starting Your FIRE Journey (21:51) Debt Strategy 101 (31:38) “Unreasonable” Debt (38:23) Bad Real Estate Investments (46:48) Key Takeaways (50:18) Connect with Kyle and Amanda! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-580 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • How to Retire Early in Your 40s by Supercharging Your Savings

    How to Retire Early in Your 40s by Supercharging Your Savings
    Nov 8 2024
    Yes, it’s possible to retire early, even if you’re just now diving into the FIRE movement. Early retirement could be within reach whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, or fifties. Imagine having complete freedom in a decade or less: no office politics, no boss, and, best of all, no spreadsheets! That’s the life Arik Peterson built when he retired early at forty-four, leaving behind a demanding career in corporate investing. After reading Mr. Money Mustache’s unmatched FIRE blog, Arik drastically changed his saving and investing habits, increasing his savings rate to seventy percent and redirecting his money into simple, steady investments many overlook. Today, his life looks vastly different—he spends his days fishing, biking, creating art, and working on DIY projects instead of staring at a computer screen, crunching numbers. In this episode, Arik shares his complete strategy for reaching financial independence, why he’s skeptical of the 4% rule, his current investment choices, and how an unexpected layoff turned into his golden opportunity. Ready to ditch corporate America? Follow Arik’s plan! In This Episode We Cover Why you must increase your savings rate if you want to reach FIRE fast The simple, low-cost investment Arik has in his early retirement portfolio Why you don’t need to follow the 4% rule to finally quit your job and retire Making money in retirement and living off of side income streams Arik’s killer advice for Roth investing that could make you tax-free millions And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Live Long Live Often Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Get to FIRE Faster “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area What to Do Before You Quit the High-Pay & Benefits of Corporate World (00:00) Intro (00:58) Discovering FIRE (02:11) A VERY Stressful Job (04:58) Secret to Get to FIRE Faster (08:35) “Obsessing” Over Money (10:16) What He Invests In (12:44) Ignore the 4% Rule? (14:22) FIRE at 44! (17:07) Connect with Arik! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-579 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • The Best (and Worst) States in the US to Retire in 2024 (FIRE Faster?)

    The Best (and Worst) States in the US to Retire in 2024 (FIRE Faster?)
    Nov 5 2024
    Should you move to reach FIRE? And if so, where to? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain and revealing the best places to retire in the US in 2024. Living in one of these states could help fast-track financial freedom, and moving there for retirement could help your nest egg go further and improve your quality of life! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Alex Gailey, a lead data reporter at Bankrate, has ranked all fifty states for retirement based on five weighted “buckets” made up of dozens of crucial data points. Today, she joins the show to share her findings with us. Whether you’re looking to put down roots in a low-cost-of-living area or find a location that delivers your ideal retirement lifestyle, this list of states is a useful launching point for one of the most important life decisions you’ll ever make! In this episode, you’ll learn how changing your address could accelerate your financial independence timeline and allow you to retire early. Alex will break down the five factors people value most in retirement—affordability, well-being, cost and quality of healthcare, weather, and crime. Stay tuned to find out which states came out on top and which states you might want to avoid. The results even surprised us! In This Episode We Cover Breaking down Alex’s list of best (and worst) states to retire in the US How to accelerate your FI timeline simply by changing your address The top five “buckets” that make up an ideal retirement destination The most crucial factors to consider when choosing where to retire How to take advantage of unique opportunities in high-cost-of-living areas And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Best and Worst States for Retirement Alex’s Twitter/X Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Get PAID to Live in an Affordable City & Fast-Track Financial Freedom (00:00) Intro (01:26) Alex’s Criteria (05:05) Best and Worst Places to Retire (11:38) Biggest Surprises (22:32) Retiring in an Expensive Area (29:10) Connect with Alex! (29:43) Accelerate Your FI Timeline! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-578 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Finance Friday: Signs You’re Saving TOO Much for Retirement

    Finance Friday: Signs You’re Saving TOO Much for Retirement
    Nov 1 2024
    Are you saving TOO much for retirement (or early retirement)? Could you retire years sooner than you think? Will retirement expenses be even less than what you spend now, allowing you to reach FIRE faster with a smaller nest egg? Today, we’re getting into that exact question as Finance Friday guest Ethan asks how he can ensure he’s on the right track for early retirement by age fifty-five. And if you’re like Ethan, you could retire RIGHT NOW…but should you? Ethan is spending a LOT of money every month. He’s got two kids in private school, extracurricular sports fees, pricey car payments, and a mortgage. The good news? He’s raking in cash at his high-paying tech job! His current expenses cost him nearly $20,000 per month, but this number could be cut in half (if not more) once his kids leave the house. This means that his FIRE number might be a fraction of what he thinks it has to be to retire early. Speaking of early retirement, is it wise to leave such a high-paying career to sit on the beach all day? Ethan has the skills and the energy to make a sizable income, so what should he do instead of full-time work once he reaches early retirement? Should he transition to part-time consulting, focus more on rental property investing, or buy a business? In This Episode We Cover Why your FIRE number may be WAY off from what you need to retire early The retirement expenses that disappear once your kids are out of the house Making money in retirement and whether buying a hands-off business is your best bet Planning for future weddings and how much you should set aside for your kid’s big day Limiting your taxes by qualifying for real estate professional status (REPS) Whether or not you’re keeping too much cash on hand (is the bank account interest worth it?) And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Get on the Path to Early Retirement with “Set for Life” Property Manager Finder Dude ACTUALLY Withdraws From His 401(k) and Retires at 47 w/Eric Cooper (00:00) Intro (04:27) Money Snapsho (12:44) Current Net Worth (15:11) Work Less, Travel More? (21:10) Early Retirement Expenses (27:02) Buy Rentals for Retirement Income (33:59) Paying Too Much in Taxes (38:22) Downsizing Houses and Next Steps (44:40) Saving for Future Weddings (48:52) How Much Do You NEED to Retire? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-577 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Reviewing Our FIRE Journeys, Timelines, and Single Biggest Regret

    Reviewing Our FIRE Journeys, Timelines, and Single Biggest Regret
    Oct 29 2024
    You can attack financial independence from one of two angles. You can create a strict timeline for achieving FIRE, or you can calculate your FIRE number and take your time with it. Which approach works best, and should you ever move the goalposts? Stay tuned to find out! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Scott and Mindy are reflecting on their journeys to financial freedom—how they started, set realistic objectives, and allowed those objectives to evolve. They’ll also share about the major “events” that propelled them toward their goals, the big lifestyle changes they have made since reaching financial independence, and the ONE thing they wish they had done differently! Whether you’re starting from zero or already on your way to FIRE, there are some personal finance fundamentals you’ve got to master: lowering your expenses and increasing your income. This combination will allow you to save more money, multiply your investments, and accelerate your FI timeline. But that’s not all. You’ll also hear about the job “trap” that keeps so many people from reaching FIRE, and why time (NOT money) is the resource we’re all actually chasing! In This Episode We Cover The crucial figure you need to pin down before setting your FI timeline Why time, not money, is the resource every FIRE-focused person really wants When to move the goalposts on your quest for financial independence The job “trap” that holds you back from FI (and how to get out of it!) The two-pronged strategy that will accelerate your path to early retirement Spending less and earning more (so that you have more money to invest) Scott and Mindy’s number one “regret” from their aggressive pursuit of FI And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money – Episode 563: Why Aren’t More “Normal” People Achieving FIRE? (00:00) Intro (00:49) The FI Timeline (06:59) Lifestyle Changes After FI (10:25) Getting Your Spending in Check (17:14) Low Expenses + High Income (24:40) Escaping the Job “Trap” (31:04) Creating Milestones (37:50) Share Your Journey with Us! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-576 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • Finance Friday: FI by 40? Make These Career and Investment Moves Now

    Finance Friday: FI by 40? Make These Career and Investment Moves Now
    Oct 25 2024
    Everyone wants to become “work-optional” at some point. Having enough money in investments and the bank would allow you to choose the job you love most, whether that’s running your own business, working part-time, or today’s guest, Travis’ dream, becoming a mountain biking guide. With a solid salary, dual income, and no plans for kids, he and his wife are on the fast track to FIRE, but can they get there by his goal of forty years old? Travis’ wife may have an option to get a significant salary bump, allowing them to travel the country while she works, and Travis stays making money from his computer. But, even this may not be enough to get them to the “work optional by forty” goal they had set out for themselves. Scott and Mindy believe they need a financial “oomph” to get them over the edge, but what’s the next best move? Should he stop his retirement account contributions to have more cash to invest for early retirement? Should he perform a live-in flip to make more money on the side while working his job? Would a side hustle or part-time job bridge the investing gap between where they are and where they need to be? If you’re stuck feeling like you can’t get to FI fast enough, this episode is for YOU! In This Episode We Cover How to fast-track your FIRE and become work optional in under ten years House hacking and why it’s one of the best ways to lower expenses and build wealth Live in flipping and how to turn your next home purchase into a money-making investment Whether you should stop investing or double down on your retirement accounts when shooting for early retirement Roth conversion ladders, HSAs (health savings accounts), and how to access retirement funds even earlier Increasing your income by job hopping and leveling up the skills that’ll make you more And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group cFIREsim How to Access Retirement Funds Early Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Grab the Book “First-Time Home Buyer” Property Manager Finder Finance Friday: How to Get to Early Retirement Even Faster (00:00) Intro (01:07) Goal: FI by 40! (03:13) Money Snapshot (04:14) Work Optionality! (05:50) Stay at His Job? (15:00) Traveling to Make More Money (20:38) Stop Investing in 401(k)? (31:13) Live in Flipping (42:39) Can Travis Hit FI by 40? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-575 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Fast-Track FI by “Gamifying” Your Finances and Making Your Own Luck

    Fast-Track FI by “Gamifying” Your Finances and Making Your Own Luck
    Oct 22 2024
    The combination of saving money and buying rentals is a recipe for reaching financial independence much faster than you thought possible. Just ask today’s guest, who started with tens of thousands of dollars in debt but was able to achieve FI in just a few years! Henry Washington is a real estate investor, author of Real Estate Deal Maker, and co-host of the On the Market podcast, but he doesn’t have your typical “rags-to-riches” money story. Despite an upper-middle-class upbringing and landing a six-figure job right out of college, Henry was a serial spender. Before he knew it, he had racked up $40,000 in credit card debt and was told by banks that he was unlendable. Horrified by what his family’s future would look like on its current trajectory, Henry was determined to get his finances in check. He caught the real estate bug, attended meetups and networking events, befriended other investors, and found his first deal! Henry went on to build and scale a real estate portfolio of over 140 units, and in this episode, he provides actionable advice that will help you break into real estate—whether you aspire to own a single rental property or twenty. Along the way, you’ll learn about “gamifying” your way to financial freedom, funding a down payment without money in the bank, and the recession-proof investing strategy Henry still uses today! In This Episode We Cover How Henry scaled his real estate portfolio to over 140 units in just seven years How “gamifying” your finances can turn you from a spender into a saver Why finding good deals is the key to a recession-proof investing strategy Getting a crash course in real estate investing through local meetups and networking Creative ways to come up with the down payment for an investment property The three phases of rental property investing that lead to generational wealth And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group On the Market Podcast Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Buy Henry’s Book “Real Estate Deal Maker” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders 30 Ways to Find Good Real Estate Deals in 2024 Connect with Henry Henry’s Instagram (00:00) Intro (01:10) Racking Up $40K Debt (06:06) Catching the Real Estate Bug (11:24) “Gamifying” Finances & Networking (16:37) Henry’s First Deal (24:18) Making Your Own Luck (30:17) Henry’s Current Portfolio (36:26) Saving His Rental Income (43:22) How to Get Started in 2024 (46:39) Connect with Henry! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-574 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • On Track to Retire a Millionaire After Living Paycheck to Paycheck

    On Track to Retire a Millionaire After Living Paycheck to Paycheck
    Oct 18 2024
    Just a short while back, Marisa Mae was caught in the paycheck-to-paycheck trap, her credit cards stretched to their limits with no emergency savings to speak of, all while wrestling with constant financial stress. Today, she’s on a clear path to retire as a millionaire. Her secret? Mastering the art of debt repayment without succumbing to severe frugality. Marisa managed to eliminate five-figure consumer debt, not by cutting out her cherished coffee runs, but by smart financial planning. Isn’t that supposed to be a big FIRE faux pas? Marisa’s turning point came at rock bottom—stranded without a place to stay or a dollar to her name. But instead of going back to restrictive budgeting and punishing herself for her overspending, she built a financial plan that worked specifically for her. Now, Marisa is ready to show others that achieving financial freedom, eradicating debt, and even starting to invest can all happen WITHOUT cutting everything enjoyable out of your life. If you’re battling to escape bad debt, Marisa’s approach could liberate you faster than you think—even if you struggle to find financial balance. In This Episode We Cover How Marisa went from a financial “mess” to being on track to become a millionaire in retirement The spending hack that allows you to treat yourself WITHOUT going over budget Why you CAN invest while paying off debt (and the right way to do it) Why taking on good debt to grow your business/side hustle isn’t a bad thing The “slow” path to becoming debt-free that is MUCH more successful than the beans and rice diet And So Much More! Links from the Show Mindy on BiggerPockets Scott on BiggerPockets Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place Join BiggerPockets for FREE Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Financial Badassery Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate Get Your Personal Finances in Check with “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt FAST ($30K+ in 1 Year!) (00:00) Intro (01:05) Paycheck-to-Paycheck and Worth $0 (04:29) Enough is Enough (07:20) Paying Off Debt While Still Spending (10:21) Investing While in Debt!? (14:41) Finally Debt-Free? (16:58) Managing Her Money (21:38) Best Tip for FIRE (24:08) Connect with Marisa! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-573 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins