Catching Up to FI

In this enlightening discussion, Jackie Cummings Koski, a personal finance educator and author of FIRE For Dummies, shares her journey of retiring before 50. She reveals how she reached a $1M financial independence number while managing a $40K annual lifestyle. Jackie delves into clever strategies, like utilizing ACA subsidies and 72(t) withdrawals for early retirement funds. She also discusses the nuances of different FIRE variants and her experiences with medical tourism in Bali. With humor and practical advice, Jackie inspires late starters to embrace their financial future.

Brandon Ganch, known as The Mad Fientist, is a pioneer in the Financial Independence movement and a talented musician. In this candid conversation, he shares his journey from extreme frugality and isolation to joyful spending and building a dream music studio. Brandon discusses the mental health challenges he faced while hyper-saving, how fatherhood reshaped his priorities, and the importance of experience over material wealth. He reveals insights into his Wealth Machines software, designed to encourage spending on meaningful experiences.

Frank Vasquez, a retired attorney and host of Risk Parity Radio, dives into the intriguing role of gold in modern portfolios. He discusses how gold serves as speculation rather than a gamble, and its unique benefits for retirees versus accumulators. Frank explains the differences between physical gold and ETFs, revealing their impact on diversification and volatility. He recommends holding about 10-15% of gold for retirement, while emphasizing the importance of practical simplicity and effective portfolio allocation for financial success.

Trae Bodge is one of the country's leading smart-shopping and personal-savings experts. You've probably seen her on CNBC and Good Morning America, or in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, and MarketWatch. She joins us on the show for a holiday-season intervention on spending, shopping, and gift-giving. Trae also shares news about her, mom-inspired Threadneedle Alley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants and guidance to midlife entrepreneurs facing financial challenges. Through Dec. 31, 2025, entrepreneurs ages 40 and up can apply for a $5,000 grant and ongoing mentorship . 🎁 🎁 🎁A Special Gift from our friend... The Mad Fientist (only through Dec 10th) Brandon Ganch's (aka The Mad Fientist) is one of the early pioneers of the FI Movement and has shared his knowledge and brilliant resources with millions of people for over a decade. He will be featured on our holiday episode (releasing on 12/21/25). This holiday season he has a brand new beta software called Wealthmachines.co, a complete system designed for financial independence that focuses on your assets and the income they generate. Even though he's brilliant at developing software, his real passion is music, and he has a new album coming out with a juicy offer! Until December 10th, he is gifting early access to you before it goes to a monthly subscription when you purchase his new album. Here's how you can support his passion and get his software: Preorder his brand new EP Album for $4.99 before December 10th on Amazon Music (or other music retailers) and ​follow him on ​Spotify (help him get to 1000 subscribers) Send a copy of the receipt to fi@madfientist.com​ Go to Wealthmachines.co and click the "Get Access" link in the top right corner to get free access. Note: The public release won't be until 2027, but you'll be able to start using it as soon as it's ready. Also, you will NOT need to pay an annual fee once the app becomes publicly available (the annual fee will be more than the EP's cost, every single year)! DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS: 🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money The modern way to manage money! Monarch will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link and entering code: CATCHINGUP50 Alloy The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Charity: Threadneedle Alley 🌐 TrueTrae.com If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

We love collaborations and this time we teamed up with Mindy and Scott from BiggerPockets Money to tackle a case study you don't want to miss: "How to go from Broke at 50 to Retired at 60!" This originally aired on BiggerPockets Money in August, and since then it received over 300,000 views and quickly moved up to the second most popular video on their YouTube Channel. Needless to say, this topic, got people talking! We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow, focusing specifically on Barb - a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Her situation represents millions of people who find themselves starting over financially in their fifties, whether due to divorce, job loss, or simply never having started saving for retirement. ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money The modern way to manage money! Monarch will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link and entering code: CATCHING50 Alloy The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 🌐Bigger Pockets Money YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/@BiggerPocketsMoney ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

At 48, Kim Hunter-Borst found herself overwhelmed by debt, but she turned her life around by making brave financial choices. She reveals how confronting her $69,000 debt and embracing accountability helped her attain early retirement by 58. Kim shares practical strategies like meal planning and smart grocery shopping, emphasizing the importance of community support in her journey. Her impactful story underscores the power of starting late and reexamining financial habits, inspiring others to take control of their financial futures.

Dr. Daniel Crosby, Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion and bestselling author, brings his unique blend of psychology and finance to the conversation. He emphasizes that money is a tool for autonomy and relationships, not merely a status symbol. Crosby highlights the dangers of lifestyle inflation and the importance of redefining wealth with purpose. He shares insights on using emotions to guide financial decisions and the significance of small, consistent habits in achieving financial well-being. His heartfelt anecdotes reinforce the idea that true fulfillment comes from meaningful choices.

In this engaging discussion, Sean Mullaney, the 'FI Tax Guy' and CPA, teams up with Cody Garrett, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Measure Twice Financial. They challenge conventional tax advice and share eye-opening strategies from their book on tax planning for early retirement. Learn essential year-end tax tips for late starters, discover the benefits of donor-advised funds, and unravel drawdown principles to optimize retirement income. Their insights aim to demystify taxes and empower listeners to plan fearlessly!

In this lively conversation from Bali, Rachel Richards, the creator of Money Honey Rachel, shares her journey from real estate success to embracing inner work. She discusses the burnout that led to closing her business and the joy of rediscovering her creativity. Rachel reveals her struggles with lost validation and her exciting plans to write a third book. Alongside other guests, they tackle the pressing question of whether achieving financial independence truly means retirement, highlighting diverse paths and reinventions.

Our guest today is Beth Pinsker, CFP®-- seasoned financial journalist, MarketWatch columnist and author of the new book, My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving. She represents the sandwich generation and gives us tips, advice, and cautionary tales about her firsthand experience after finding herself caring for her mother and her finances. She explains that caregiving isn't just forms and bank calls—it's love, logistics, and a dash of stubborn grit. Beth also shares: The "death file" story that changed everything How to survive bank pushbacks on powers of attorney Why a tiny funeral policy became an act of love The must-do digital steps that make caregiving possible in a two-factor world ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Alloy The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 🌐 BethPinsker.com 📗 My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving 🗒️AARP Article: 5 Things I Learned From Managing My Mother's Money ⏰ 'Catching Up to FI' Episodes Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk | Cameron Huddleston | 048 Mini Retirements, Sabbaticals, Career Breaks- Yes Please! | Jillian Johnsrud | 153 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.