Catching Up to FI

After 28 years of playing the weather girl on TV, Kristen Knapp moved to part time work to follow her passion for travel planning for the financial independence (FI) community. She shares her fascinating backstory of growing up in poverty, dealing with childhood money trauma, becoming a successful broadcast meteorologist, and ultimately achieving FI. As someone who loves to travel, loves to plan travel, and loves spending time with the FI community, she thought why not combine those things? So, she launched a new venture called 'FI Friends Travel' which offers travel experiences that bring the FI Community together to see the world! Join us as Kristen takes us through how she made this unlikely transformation, even after getting a late start. 🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off  Resources mentioned on the show: 🌐 FI Friends Travel Email: kristen@fifriendstravel.com  CampFI Economy Conference Episode Mentioned: From Poverty to Wealth and Early Retirement | Jackie Cummings Koski | 007   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 games so today we're bringing you a podcast takeover and having some fun with 'Money Jeopardy'! This was recorded live at FinCon 2024 (a conference for personal finance content creators) with 'The Struggle is Real' podcast, hosted by our friend Justin Peters. He’s joined by Jackie Cummings Koski (your co-host on 'Catching Up to FI'), Joel Larsgaard from 'How to Money' and Justin Brown-Woods from 'Price of Avocado Toast' to play!  The contestants will be choosing questions from 4 categories: Binge or Cringe - are you in or out on this personal finance topic History of Money - a tough money-related trivia question Frugal or Cheap - are you being a good steward of your money or just a cheapo Fill in the blank - complete this statement We weigh in on some serious topics like: Is Couponing Worth it, Using Your Old Student ID for Discounts, Weirdest Way You’ve Made Money, and more. You will chuckle and laugh throughout this whole conversation, but you’ll also pick up tips and tricks along the way.    🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off    Resources mentioned on the show: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) The Struggle is Real (Justin Peters) How to Money (Joel Larsgaard) Catching Up to FI (Jackie Cummings Koski) 📕 F.I.R.E. For Dummies ~ Jackie Cummings Koski  👉🏻 https://amzn.to/3BInEgu Price of Avocado Toast (Justin Brown-Woods) FinCon   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.

Cody Garrett, founder of Measure Twice Money and an expert in advice-only financial planning, shares 24 common DIY investment mistakes. He highlights pitfalls like underutilizing employer benefits and misapplying the 4% rule. Cody emphasizes the importance of strategic planning as you approach retirement, discussing topics such as Roth accounts and health insurance. The conversation wraps up with a delightful Holiday piano medley, perfectly capturing the festive spirit!

Bill Bengen, the mastermind behind the 4% rule, shares his insights on retirement planning and market strategies. He reflects on how his research has evolved over 30 years, tackling pressing questions about risk management versus market timing. Bengen offers a sneak peek into his upcoming book, encouraging retirees to be more flexible with their spending. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability in portfolio management and shares valuable advice for late financial starters, making retirement planning less daunting and more attainable.

Today Bill and Jackie are joined by another genius in the world of retirement planning research, David Blanchett, PhD, CFA, CFP. In his role at PGIM, David is responsible for Target Date Funds and Retirement Spending Portfolios. In this episode he discusses redefined retirement concepts, the myths surrounding the 60/40 portfolio and some practical adjustments of the 4% rule. He also explains the 'retirement spending smile,' and retirement strategies for late starters.   🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off    Resources mentioned on the show: 🌐David's Website David's Latest Research A Time-Honored Strategy Puts Your Retirement at Risk of Financial Ruin Guided Spending Rates: Rethinking “Safe” Initial Withdrawal Rates Redefining the Optimal Retirement Income Strategy   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.

In this episode we turn the tables as Bill joins Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP on the Childfree Wealth podcast. Bill shares his journey as a late starter physician who lived largely a paycheck-to-paycheck existence until waking up at age 50. He now co-hosts the 'Catching Up to FI' podcast to help other late starters. Jay is the author of the upcoming book 'The Childfree Guide to Life and Money' and the founder of Childfree Wealth, a financial planning firm that addresses the needs of childfree people in a way that traditional financial companies don’t. Jay and Bill cover topics like investing, long-term care, and preparing for unexpected medical emergencies.   🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off    Resources mentioned on the show: 🌐 Childfree Wealth  Order Jay's new book: The Childfree Guide to Life and Money   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.

Hard to believe that 2024 is almost over but before we close it out, we have some end-of-year financial tips with special guest Eric Simonson, CFP and CEO of Abundo Wealth (an advice-only financial planning firm). Eric shares insights on maximizing different types of contributions, FSAs, charitable donations, and other tax strategies. There are a few things you’ll want to check off your financial to-do list before December 31st; some have a true deadline, and others are smart things you should review every year.   Eric also clues us in on a unique service the firm offers- 'travel hacking'. They love teaching skills such as budgeting for trips, finding cost-effective travel options, and maximizing travel rewards programs for their clients.    🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off    Resources mentioned on the show: 🌐 Abundo Wealth: Advice-Only Financial Planning for Everyone  End of Year Financial Checklist: The Must-Do's  Abundo Wealth Blog Eric Simonson Interview on Kitces podcast Beginning in 2025, the catch-up contribution increases for those age 60, 61, 62 or 63 is an extra $11,250   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.

Our guest today is Jacqueline (Jack) Howard, head of Money Wellness at Ally Financial, a leading voice in financial health & wellness, and fierce change maker. We are thrilled to bring you this special episode recorded live from FinCon 2024 in Atlanta, GA! It's no secret that we love Ally and talk about them often on the podcast. From the high yield savings accounts to the cool buckets that are perfect for allocating your sinking funds, they're our favorite. But what really blew us away in this interview was Jack's money story and how it led to her incredible work as the face of financial wellness at Ally.  Jack blends personal finance and psychology to help people achieve holistic financial well-being that helps shift their perspective on money. She shares more about Ally's newest community initiative, Money Roots, a free financial education program designed to help people uncover the 'why' behind their money behaviors. Jack also gets vulnerable with us as she shares her own resilient story of the loss of her mother as a young girl and winning her heroic battle against breast cancer. With her giving spirit, she proudly served as chair of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Detroit in 2023 and 2024. Special thanks to LLC Attorney for sponsoring the Podcast booth at FinCon 2024.   🔗Connect with us  Buy CUtFI a coffee  Record a message for CUtFI   Thank you to our sponsor:  DeleteMe: Your personal data is yours again. Hands-free subscription service that removes you from data broker sites. Enter the code Catchingup at checkout to get 20% off    Resources mentioned on the show: 🌐 Ally.com Sign up for free Ally ‘Money Roots’ Virtual Workshop 5 steps to uncover your money story Jack's appearance on the show 'Side Hustlers' (Episode 2) Catching Up to FI Episode: Sinking Funds Are Sexy | Bill Yount & Becky Heptig | 003 Support Jack’s favorite charity: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Detroit (Search on 'Jacqueline Howard')   If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. 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.

Karsten Jeske, known as 'Big ERN,' is the founder of Early Retirement Now and a personal finance expert with a PhD in economics. He dives into the critical concept of sequence of returns risk, illustrating how it can impact retirees’ financial health. Karsten critiques the 4% withdrawal rule, advocating for tailored strategies that reflect individual circumstances. He also discusses market valuations and shares his personal journey from Germany to early retirement in the U.S., shedding light on the community support in financial independence.

Jesse Cramer, founder of 'The Best Interest' blog and podcast, transitioned from aerospace engineering to financial planning, simplifying complex topics for his clients. He discusses essential strategies for pre and post-retirement planning, particularly for late starters. Jesse emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, tackling the emotional fears surrounding retirement, and the balance between conservative and aggressive investment styles. He uses gardening as a metaphor for diversification and nurturing personal relationships to achieve financial wellness.