The Financial Independence Show

Today’s episode features Marlys Woods who created her own business, Get in Tune Music Therapy, where she uses music as a tool to help her clients reach new heights. Never heard of musical therapy? Neither had we but it’s very interesting. She pairs what she loves about music with psychology. The most common use case for this is for developmental issues or speech rehab. But it’s also possible to use music as a tool for everyday productivity and releasing stressors. Marlys focuses on addiction which was her focus after her undergrad degree. She turned this into a full-fledged business where she employs other contractors to all help patients through their recovery utilizing music. Take a listen and learn about yet another amazing example of designing a life that brings you happiness and purpose. Links From the Episode Contact Marlys: Website: Getintunemusictherapy.com Instagram: @GetInTuneMusic Money Emotions & Music: Program coming soon for managing emotions on your financial independence journey!  Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode rounds out our series on utilizing your location as a tool to financial independence and is led by just thew of us hosts. You may hear this idea called geo-arbitrage. We wanted to pick two locations where we would actually like to take a test run of financial independence in a foreign country. Cody picked Santiago, Chile and Justin picked Porto, Portugal. This episode covers an honest and holistic look at what it would cost for a couple to live in these countries while still really exploring and enjoying them. Take a listen and consider where you’d move if you had the freedom. Santiago, Chile Housing – $500 for a one BR apartment – Comes with parking, laundry, gym, BBQ and pool Utilities (Electricity, Heat, Cooling, Water, Garbage) $135 per month Cost of Flights to Other Locations – Flights around South America starting as low as $35. – $385 to get back to  Cody’s home in New England Restaurant Samplings – Simple meal at inexpensive restaurant costs $5 Grocery Samplings – $30-35 per week. With mostly fish, vegetables, beans, eggs, “healthy” pasta, fruits, and smoothies Phone/Internet – $45 per month Public Transportation – Taxis will take you anywhere for less than $10 – Average of $150 per month (per expat survey) Healthcare – Ranked 33 out of 190 countries (similar to Australia and Denmark and many of the doctors speak english) – $100-120 for healthy adult expat insurance Visa Requirements (how long can I stay?) – 90 days (plus can pay $100 for another 90 day extension) Weather – Coldest months are June and July with average highs of 61 degrees Fahrenheit – Only downside is that it rains 4-5 days per week Total cost = $1650/month 500 housing 135 utilities 120 groceries 250 restaurants 45 phone/internet 100 transport 120 healthcare 400 entertainment $19,800 per year   Porto, Portugal Housing – $833 for a one BR apartment in heart of the city – Comes with parking, laundry, wifi, all utilities Utilities (Electricity, Heat, Cooling, Water, Garbage) Included Cost of Flights to Other Locations – Flights around Europe starting as low as $25. Paris: $25 Barcelona $49 Milan $53 – $670 to get back to  Justin’s home in Austin Restaurant Samplings – Simple meal at inexpensive restaurant costs $6 – Anthony Bordain visited restaurant also serves $1.80 martinis Grocery Samplings – $40 per week. $2.60/lb chicken, $1.30/lb pork, $0.75 fresh bread, $0.90 apples, $2.50 bottle of wine as examples Phone/Internet – Wifi is free, 22gb data and unlimited call cell phone for $18 Public Transportation -Amazing train system for very cheap which I factor into “Travel” Healthcare – Emergency room visits are free – Research shows ~$40 per month for plans Visa Requirements (how long can I stay?) – 90 days with just the passport – Full citizenship appears attainable if you can prove you have healthcare as well as stable income source to fund your retirement Weather – Lowest highs are 57 degrees December/January – Highest highs are 77 degrees in July/August Total cost = $1770/month (for a couple) 833 housing 140 groceries 300 restaurants 18 phone/internet 80 healthcare 400 entertainment (includes transportation) $21,240 per year   Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features Jim White from Route to Retire. We’re continuing our series on geoarbitrage which is the act of purposefully moving to a location for monetary benefits such as lower cost of living or tax treatment. Jim and his family utilized a traditional corporate job to amass a nest egg large enough to retire in his early 40s. They were conservative enough to save for a life in the U.S. but wanted to find a lower price point abroad. Jim poured over the research and took a successful test run to Panama. The rest is history and Jim and his family now live there full time. They live a vacation life on an ordinary budget. Take a listen and consider where you’d move if you had the freedom. Links From the Episode Follow along with Jim’s Net-worth Roth IRA conversion calculator Cost of living in Panama Investment drawdown plan Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features Mr. Nomad Numbers from Nomad Numbers. This begins our series on Geo-arbitrage which is the act of purposefully moving to a location for monetary benefits such as lower cost of living or tax treatment. Mr. &. Mrs. Nomad numbers were living in California and realized they could jump ship and retire. They chose to move to Taiwan where they could obtain a 3yr gold-card which would allow them to live there full time. Mr. NN also gives us the breakdown of how Taiwan has battled Covid-19 so effectively and what it was like going through that process. We’re excited to bring you some guests who took their freedom to the next level and moved abroad. Take a listen and consider where you’d move if you had the freedom. Links From the Episode Taiwan Gold Card https://taiwangoldcard.com/goldcard-holders-faq/at-work/#can-i-just-not-work-at-all https://www.nomadnumbers.com/taiwan-employment-gold-card-application-guide/ Other Helpful Links https://www.nomadnumbers.com/cost-of-living-stuck-in-taiwan-during-the-pandemic/ https://www.nomadnumbers.com/slow-travel/ https://www.nomadnumbers.com/design-your-ideal-life/ https://www.nomadnumbers.com/top-tips-save-money-airbnb-guide/ Nomad Numbers Cost of Living Around The World Map Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features your two podcast hosts, Justin & Cody. The cover guest questions on topics like medical bill negotiations, pricing, plan types, coverage when traveling, and more. They also let listeners in on exactly how they get their coverage now, and for Justin, how he plans to manage this once he no longer has that W-2 job. This topic is crucial for everyone listening so don’t miss this one. Links From the Episode https://uncoveredhc.com/blog/the-top-healthcare-transparency-sites-2019/ https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes ehealthinsurance.com healthcare.gov https://uncoveredhc.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-health-insurance-for-2020/ https://uncoveredhc.com/blog/paying-for-health-insurance/ Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features the healthcare expert Scott Heiser who authored Healthcare is Making Me Sick. Scott is leading the charge on making healthcare understandable for all. He covers how new transparency data tools are empowering us as healthcare consumers and how best to handle your medical bills. This topic is crucial for everyone listening so don’t miss this one. Summary Scott shares transparency data tools and how they’re changing healthcare shopping Medical tourism is possible even within the United States You haggle for a used car, why not the payment on a knee replacement? Are non-profit hospitals raking in cash? And much more Reach out to Scott Book: Healthcare is Making Me Sick Website: UncoveredHC.com Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features the healthcare option experts Lynn Frair and Jackie Cummings Koski. Lynn is crowdsourcing all the best health care options for the FI community and Jackie is a certified Health Savings Account (HSA) expert! Open enrollment is just around the corner and we’re bringing you the knowledge you need to decide. This topic is crucial for everyone listening so don’t miss this one. Links and Resources Comparing High Deductible Plans with a Health Savings Account to Traditional plans Lynn & Jackie recommend this tool -> WexInc HSA vs Traditional Calculator Really understanding what all you can do with HSAs Mad Fientist article helps with HSAs too How Lynn is crowdsourcing healthcare options especially for FIRE / Entrepreneurs Take a look at FI Healthcare Reach out to Lynn & Jackie Lynn Frair Website: FI Healthcare  Instagram: FI Healtchare LinkedIn: Lynn Frair Jackie Cummings Koski HSA Email: hsaquestion@gmail.com  Website: Money Letter 2 LinkedIn: Jackie Koski Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features your very own hosts Justin from Saving-Sherpa and Cody from Fly to FI. We just wanted to celebrate our 100th episode! Both of us give you a rundown on all the big life events that have taken place this year. Cody bought three investment properties and Justin hit FI at age 30! There’s so much more so you won’t want to miss this one. Episode Summary What You Can Expect To Hear Justin hits FI Cody buys 3 properties Cody goes Vegan Justin sells his van Justin moves to Texas Cody learns lessons from entrepreneurship We also celebrate accomplishments from those special people in our lives Experimenting with The FI Show going forward We want to hear from you! Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Grab our FREE Budget Planner Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating/review! >> You can do that by clicking here << Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features Jerry Brown from Peerless Money Mentor. Jerry grew up in a self-described ghetto with no real view of a way out. We cover his background, how he turned things around, and how he’s built a powerful financial independence network. You won’t want to miss this inspiring story! Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about this awesome episode. Episode Summary Jerry’s Background Jerry didn’t really know he was poor growing up But he lived in a crime-filled neighborhood with few outside role models His mom also needed assistance to get by He talks about how people were surprised he’d even admit that he was from the area he lived in Growing up he thought basketball or rapping would be the only possible way to escape His mom did put a big emphasis on learning but financial independence never seemed reasonable Can you Bootstrap Past Disadvantages? Jerry sees it as a mixed bag He does put a lot of weight into hard work But he also acknowledges the real disadvantages He was also cognizant enough to understand his family was a big advantage Jerry’s Financial Mistakes Jerry was young and healthy so he thought he didn’t need insurance A large dental procedure led him to serious credit card debt Then he started buying more things on credit Eventually, Jerry would buy a $22k car while only earning $22k per year Financial Wake Up Call He came home and his fiance had her bags packed Jerry realized he couldn’t afford to live by himself So he thought he’d just live out of his car to avoid the embarrassment of moving home Jerry was also carrying debt with 25% interest rates He was making payments but was never actually making progress A friend recommended he refinance through a personal loan This lowered his debt all the way down to 5% For his remaining credit card bills, he did a balance transfer That gave him 0% rate for 18 months Jerry’s Side Hustle Journey He tried Swagbucks but the payout was terrible Then he tried Uber but it was taking a toll on his car Jerry also tried We Go Look where you send in pictures of damaged vehicles for insurance claims. Now he is getting more into freelance writing and social media management Jerry also highly recommends Beta Testing. Networking This was a really powerful part of Jerry’s story Networking expanded his world view It also tangibly impacted him From ideas on debt payment or side hustles like freelance writing Jerry really highlights the importance to surround yourself with people you can draw knowledge and encouragement from Key Takeaways Artificial Limits: One thing that really stuck out was the disadvantage that people experience simply by having low expectations set for them and surrounding them. Mental Health: We loved that Jerry was open about his mental health journey and his encouragement to others to also take it seriously. Call to Action Expand your network! One easy way is to just join our Facebook group page. Other options are LinkedIn, MeetUp, or other Facebook group pages. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Partners We’ve all heard of LinkedIn, but have any of you managers or small business owners used the platform to hire new talent? LinkedIn Jobs uses its state-of-the-art technology to put your listing in front of qualified candidates. When you’re ready to make that next hire, visit LinkedIn.com/FiShow to get $50 off your first job listing. Jerry’s Information Website: Peerless Money Mentor Twitter: @PeerlessMoney Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Today’s episode features Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins. Before creating a massively popular podcast, Joe made a lot of money mistakes. This all came to a clash when he was working as a financial advisor, owned his own business, and still could barely get the money to get home. Now Joe is bringing finances into so many homes via a unique comedic angle. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about this awesome episode! Episode Summary Joe’s Background Joe was in high school and remembers seeing news specials on money-saving tips He also got inspired by the movie Wall Street But it took Joe a long time to actually put it into practice His parents pushed him to work hard but money was taboo Making Money Missteps On his first day at college, Joe spots a long line at an American Express Credit Card table He talks about blowing money at the mall and fancy meals at Ruby Tuesday for his friends Then things get real when he gets a bill and his parents refuse to help him His credit was destroyed and the interest started building Even in his professional life, he thought he had an earning issue, not a spending issue But we know from famous athletes that a spending problem will always overcome earnings Joe started earning more money with his own business but kept racking up debt Keep in mind, his business was as a financial advisor The breaking moment is when he has no money or credit to buy gas to get home Joe had to dig for change in his seats just to get home Turning Things Around Joe realized he needed to “hide money” from himself This meant automating money to go into separate accounts that he didn’t see He also realized that he couldn’t go cold turkey Joe gave himself an allowance so he could buy some of those entertainment items He said it’s important to not be too restrictive or else you’ll relapse Entrepreneurial Journey Joe says he’s a bad employee He would always clash with a boss Joe admits he also wasn’t a great boss at first He might hire people too much like him Or spout off ideas through the day not thinking his employees would take that as direction Starting Stacking Benjamins Joe sold his business at age 40 This was inspired by a colleague who walked away because it wasn’t fulfilling That person, Chris,  stepped away to go climb mountains across the world Chris would then go on to start an adventure travel company Inspired by this, Joe decides to go back to school to become a teacher/coach He realized quickly that it wasn’t for him So Joe starts dabbling in a blog and creates the  Stacking Benjamins podcast He wanted to take the unique angle of comedy They took it really seriously and even would attend comedy classes Pulling From Others Joe recommends the book by Austin Kleon – Think like an artist He really recommends people look at others in their industry and pull all the best parts It was actually a car podcast that was hilarious to him that inspired the Stacking Benjamin theme Joe says he actually wants a finance show where no one learns a thing about money In reality, people learn a lot but it doesn’t feel like a class He would go on to pull from a board game podcast, car podcast, and even a little kids podcast Key Takeaways Imposter Syndrome: Joe was a financial advisor but still struggled to follow his own advice. We all need help on this journey. Let Others Inspire You: Don’t feel guilty about taking takes from others as long as it isn’t inspiration. Call to Action Change, assess, repeat. Start to source ideas from others and try them out. Don’t just be stagnant! Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Partners We’ve all heard of LinkedIn, but have any of you managers or small business owners used the platform to hire new talent? LinkedIn Jobs uses its state-of-the-art technology to put your listing in front of qualified candidates. When you’re ready to make that next hire, visit LinkedIn.com/FiShow to get $50 off your first job listing.   Express VPN is one of the leading virtual private network service providers in the industry. Before I learned about Express VPN, I used to use incognito mode when I wanted to protect my information and browsing history. But I was wrong. Your internet service provider can actually still legally sell your information even if you’re using an incognito browser. But when you use Express VPN to surf the web, the software encrypts your web traffic and masks your IP address to give you real privacy. Use limited-time offer ExpressVPN.com/FiShow for 3 months off a 1-year subscription. Start protecting your privacy today!  Joe’s Information Website / Podcast: Stacking Benjamins Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)