Cutting Taxes & Retiring Sooner w/ Cody Garrett #1037

16 snips

Sep 17, 2025

Cody Garrett, an advice-only CFP at Measure Twice Financial and author of *Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement*, shares invaluable insights on tax strategies that can ease the path to early retirement. He discusses the importance of proactive tax planning, emphasizing how small savings adjustments can lead to significant benefits. The conversation also highlights the evolving mindset towards financial independence, effective withdrawal strategies, and the role of Social Security in retirement planning. Get ready to rethink your financial future!

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INSIGHT

Taxes Are An Adjustable Lever

Taxes are controllable expenses and your actions can change your individual tax rate.
Cody Garrett frames tax planning as a lever to meet financial goals, not just an unavoidable cost.

ANECDOTE

Best Money Spent: A Homemaker Choice

Cody and his wife chose for her to be a homemaker and call that decision their best money spent.
That choice cut household costs and increased time together while supporting their financial goals.

ADVICE

Plan For Early Or Involuntary Retirement

Plan for early or involuntary retirement even if you don't intend to stop working.
Build flexibility so layoffs, ageism, or industry shifts don't derail your finances.

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Benjamin Franklin once wrote “... in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It was true over 200 years ago and it’s true today! But we’re here to argue that there’s another certainty pertaining to taxes: that we all have the ability to change our individual tax rate by our own actions! Our guest today, Cody Garrett, has thoroughly internalized that reality. He is an advice-only CFP at Measure Twice Financial who specializes in helping folks make a comprehensive financial plan. That includes the role taxes play in your ability to meet your goals. His new book, Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement, helps folks plan intentionally around a giant expense we all face, taxes.

We discuss the number of Americans, often involuntarily retiring before age 65, how Social Security should be factored into retirement planning but not solely relied upon, how small changes in savings rates can lead to significant retirement benefits, why flexibility in financial strategies is key to adapting to changing circumstances, and much more!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

Be sure and check out the "Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement" Book: https://www.measuretwicemoney.com/book
- And you can enjoy Cody over at Measure Twice Money on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeasureTwiceMoney
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