BiggerPockets Money

What should you do once you reach Coast FI? Keep investing and move closer to full financial independence, spend more and enjoy life now, or use that financial security to take a career risk? BiggerPockets Money co-host Scott Trench and Evan Lawler break down what Coast FI actually makes possible and why reaching your number doesn't mean you should stop thinking about your financial future. They explore how entrepreneurship, buying a home, taxes, employer matches, and access to your investments should influence your next move. Plus, they discuss the trade-offs between tax-advantaged retirement accounts and liquid investments, and why the best Coast FI plan leaves room for life to change.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in working with Nectarine? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/nectarineInterested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Evan Lawler:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_financialfoundation/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_FinancialFoundation We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could one spouse quit a high-paying job without putting the family's financial independence at risk? Madison Sharick, a CFA and CFP at Nectarine, joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to work through a case study of a family with $1.2 million invested, two kids, and $90,000 in annual spending. They explore how leaving a job affects the path to FIRE, whether portfolio withdrawals can bridge the income gap, and how starting a business changes the financial picture. Plus, they break down how much cash to keep on hand, why healthcare costs matter, and when a taxable brokerage account may be worth prioritizing over tax advantages. Before you quit your job, here's what you need to consider.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in working with Nectarine? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/nectarineInterested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Madison Sharick:Instagram: @MadiManagesMoneyWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark's net worth has jumped from $1.5 million to $2.7 million in just four years, and his rental portfolio has grown to 14 doors. But now he's facing a new challenge: moving closer to family near Orlando without becoming house poor or derailing his financial independence. Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench help him weigh renting before buying, deciding which rental properties to keep or sell, and navigating the tax consequences. They also reveal the biggest driver behind Mark's wealth growth, and it's not necessarily real estate.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you go from $90,000 in debt to a $2.5 million net worth and Coast FI? Ericka Young, a financial coach, joins BiggerPockets Money to share how she and her husband paid off $90K in debt in just five years and built wealth through budgeting, consistent investing, and growing their income.Ericka breaks down the debt snowball strategy that helped them get out of debt, why boring index fund investing worked, and how she turned financial coaching into a business. Now that she’s reached Coast FI and built a $2.5 million net worth, she’s facing a new question: should they pay off their mortgage or buy a vacation rental?To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Ericka Young-Website: https://www.erickayoung.com/Social: https://www.instagram.com/erickayoungofficial/?hl=enFor Better or Worth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-better-and-worth/id16654812We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!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 work less, travel more, and enjoy financial freedom long before reaching your full early retirement number? Mel, nurse and creator of Traveling to Retirement, joins Mindy Jensen and Evan Lawler to explain how Coast FI changed her approach to money, work, and life. At 33, she has a 65–80% savings rate, is roughly 60% of the way to her $3 million FI goal, and could stop investing today and still reach financial independence by 41.Mel shares how she quadrupled her income, keeps expenses relatively low, and uses tax-advantaged accounts and a taxable brokerage to build wealth. But the real goal isn't just retiring early. It's having the freedom to work fewer days, travel when she wants, and pursue opportunities without worrying about maximizing every dollar. She also explains why enjoying the journey matters more than reaching a magic number.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelingtoretirement/Mel’s Stan Store: https://stan.store/travelingtoretirementWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you go from spending 120% of your income to saving 80%-90% of it and eventually reach financial independence in your 40s? Justin David Carl knows firsthand that making a high-income doesn't necessarily mean building wealth. After racking up $80,000 in debt during his Hollywood nightlife career and falling six years behind on taxes, he had to completely rethink his relationship with money. But once he discovered the Financial Independence (FIRE) movement, he turned things around in a big way.Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Justin joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to share how he went from nightclub VIP hosting to earning as much as $888,000 a year in tech sales, paying off debt, and building wealth through an aggressive savings and investing strategy. But reaching financial independence brought an unexpected challenge: figuring out what to do next. Now, instead of chasing the highest possible net worth, Justin is focused on maximizing his "net life", the quality of his everyday life.Tune in to learn how he built an 80%-plus savings rate, why he traded his Range Rover for a Prius, how he navigated the identity crisis of early retirement, and why financial independence should be about enjoying your life, not just growing your portfolio!To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Justin David Carl: Social Media: @JustinDavidCarlWebsite: fitrichlife.comPodcast: Fit Rich LifeWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when an energy shock sends oil prices soaring? The ripple effects can reach far beyond the gas pump, driving up the cost of groceries, transportation, and everyday goods while putting the Federal Reserve in a difficult position on inflation and interest rates.In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money, host Scott Trench and longtime guest J Scott break down the economic domino effect of energy supply shocks and how disruptions in global energy markets can affect inflation, mortgage rates, household finances, and the broader economy. They explain how oil futures react almost immediately, why gasoline prices can take one to two weeks to respond, and how the effects can spread through supply chains for months or even years. They also explore how tariffs and deglobalization could intensify economic pressures, why energy-importing countries may face greater risks than the United States, and whether the Federal Reserve can control inflation without slowing economic growth. Tune in to understand how energy shocks move through the economy, what policymakers can realistically do about them, and how to think about the financial consequences for your household.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: https://incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with J Scott: https://linktr.ee/jscottinvestorWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the key to a better retirement isn't saving more, but learning when it's safe to spend more? Financial planner Aubrey Williams breaks down retirement guardrails, a flexible withdrawal strategy that helps early retirees adjust spending based on portfolio performance instead of relying on a fixed withdrawal rate. Using a $1 million portfolio, he explains how to balance market risk with the often-overlooked risk of underspending and missing out on life while you're still young enough to enjoy it.The goal is to spend confidently, adapt when markets change, and make the most of the money you've worked so hard to save.To go beyond the podcast:Listen to the Full Episode (671): https://youtu.be/VSffAvPaxFEInterested in working with a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYFollow BiggerPockets Money on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can Gen Z still achieve financial independence and retire early (FIRE) in 2026? On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, co-hosts Evan Lawler and Scott Trench break down whether Gen Z faces a tougher path to financial freedom than millennials. They examine housing affordability, career income growth, spending habits, side hustles, and the three key factors behind every FIRE plan: earning more, spending less than you make, and investing for long-term returns.Whether you're in your 20s, building wealth, or planning for early retirement, this episode offers practical insights to help you make smarter financial decisions, set realistic FIRE goals, and build a financial independence plan that can withstand an uncertain economy.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Evan Lawler:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_financialfoundation/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_FinancialFoundation We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Scanlan, better known as the Financial Tutor, joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to share how he went from house hacking in Chicago to building nearly $2 million in net worth by age 32 and leaving his six-figure corporate job. He breaks down how buying and renovating a three-unit property helped accelerate his wealth, how side hustles grew into a new career, and why he ultimately decided to sell the property. Now, with a growing family and more than $500,000 in proceeds from the sale, Kevin faces a new question: should he invest the money, pay down his mortgage, or build a business? It's a candid look at Coast FI, real estate investing, entrepreneurship, and what financial freedom actually looks like when your priorities start to change.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWant to better protect your personal identity? Go to: incogni.com/bpmoney, code BPMONEYConnect with Kevin Scanlan:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTutorWebsite: https://www.kevinfinancialtutor.com/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.