How to Pick Investments in your 401k

Setting up your 401 (k) can feel overwhelming, especially when you are faced with a long list of investment options. To make it easier, we welcome Zina Kumok, financial advisor and money expert, to explain how to choose wisely. Zina covers the importance of the employer match, diversification, and automation so your retirement savings can grow without stress.

In the second half, we sit down with Jessica and Corey Fick of The Fioneers, who reached Coast FIRE in their early 30s. They share how they built a million-dollar portfolio, left corporate jobs that no longer fit their lives, and created a business that supports the lifestyle they truly want.

If you are just starting out with your 401k or aiming for Coast FIRE, this episode will give you both the tactical steps and the long-term inspiration to succeed.

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS & AFFILIATES)

• Monarch Money – Best budget app for families & couples.

• Empower – Free portfolio tracker.

• Crew – HYSA banking built for families (Get an extra 0.5% APY with my partner link).

• Ethos – Affordable term life insurance.

• Trust & Will – Convenient estate planning made easy.

Podcast Chapters
00:00 – Why your 401k match is part of your compensation
00:28 – Welcome and overview of today’s episode
01:00 – Introduction to Zina Kumok
02:15 – What a 401k is and why it matters
03:30 – Understanding employer matches
05:00 – Choosing investments in your 401k
06:30 – Risk tolerance and diversification explained
08:30 – Automating your 401k contributions
09:20 – Alternatives to a 401k (IRA, HSA, brokerage)
13:00 – The importance of capturing your employer match
14:30 – Where to connect with Zina Kumok
15:17 – Coast FIRE couple spotlight: Jessica and Corey Fick
16:20 – The Coast FIRE Five
18:00 – Their journey from early investing to Coast FIRE
22:30 – How burnout pushed them to redesign their lives
25:00 – Reaching Coast FIRE and slowing contributions
27:00 – What their portfolio looks like today
29:30 – Household income range over 15 years
31:30 – Growing investments without new contributions
33:30 – How they control expenses in New England
35:20 – Advice for others pursuing Coast FIRE
37:10 – Why Coast FIRE is more approachable than full FIRE
40:00 – Where to learn more from The Fioneers

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER
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Opinions are the creators alone.
Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.
Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

CREDITS
Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa
Editor: Johnny Sohl
Podcast Support: Andy Hill

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