On today’s episode of the Financial Independence Podcast, I interview a serial entrepreneur who has achieved financial independence three different ways! You’d think that selling a company to Google or buying San Francisco real estate before prices went crazy would be the best way to reach financial independence but that’s not been the case for today’s guest, Chris Hutchins from Grove. Although he’s done all of those things, Chris shares how consistent saving actually impacted his net worth more than anything else. This episode is packed full of useful information, especially if plan to start your own business or want to do something meaningful after early retirement, so hope you enjoy it! Highlights: What it’s like being an investment banker How to get a job you really love Biggest business lessons learned from working at Google Ventures Why you should always say “Yes” The benefits of doing something interesting every month How aggressive saving can impact your net worth more than selling a company to Google or investing in San Francisco real estate Why you should “retire” before you hit your FI number My new favorite definition of retirement

It’s been a while since I posted a new Financial Independence Podcast episode but I’m excited to share one with you today! Mr. and Mrs. 1500 from 1500Days.com joined me live at FinCon in Dallas to interview the Physician on FIRE! We sadly only had 25 minutes to record so it’s a short interview but it’s a fun one. If you ever wanted to hear Mrs. 1500 rap, this episode is definitely for you :) And if you ever wanted to hear what a podcast sounds like when two out of the three hosts are ridiculously hungover, this one is also for you (see if you can figure out which host is the sensible one). I’ll be back to my longer, more in-depth interviews soon but for now, I hope you enjoy this wild and entertaining conversation with the Physician on FIRE! Highlights: How to separate your identity from your job Using geographic arbitrage to spend less while getting paid more (without ever leaving the United States) How to deal with sunk costs What it’s like finding FIRE after already achieving financial independence Plus, an amazing (and original) gangsta rap verse performed by Mrs. 1500!

One of the internet’s most-respected retirement researchers and financial planners, Michael Kitces, joins me for an episode of the Financial Independence Podcast! You may remember that my Safe Withdrawal Rate post drew heavily from the incredible research Kitces has done on the topic so it was great to talk to him directly to dive even deeper into important topics related to early retirement. During the interview, we discuss… Safe Withdrawal Rates and whether the 4% rule is still safe in the current market environment The unique challenges early retirees face that normal retirees don’t (and also some of the unique advantages early retirees have) How Michael tackles early retirement from a financial planning perspective If you’re worried about figuring out how much you can withdraw from your portfolio after you retire, this episode is for you! Highlights: Why Michael began researching safe withdrawal rates What the Shiller CAPE is and how it can be used to determine a better safe withdrawal rate Why the initial criticism of the 4% rule was that it was too low What would be a safe withdrawal rate to use today, considering current market valuations Human capital vs. financial capital and the advantages of having both How to find a financial advisor and what Michael would do if a client came to him with early retirement plans The biggest wild card that early retirees need to be concerned with that standard retirees don’t

On today’s episode of the Financial Independence Podcast, Jeff from The Happy Philosopher joins me to discuss the unique challenges that doctors and other professionals face on the journey to early retirement. When you invest so much time, money, and energy into your career, it’s no wonder that walking away from your job is much more difficult. We discuss alternatives to early retirement, which provide a lot of the same benefits but limit the downsides, and we also dive into ways you can increase your happiness during your journey to FI! Highlights: The unique problems that doctors face when pursuing financial independence How you can separate your identity from your job Why you should focus on happiness instead of FI The benefits of the best drug in the world Why you should stop watching news (and stop worrying about things you can’t control) What is a ‘job share’ and why it’s a great alternative to early retirement

To celebrate the 5-year anniversary of launching the Financial Independence Podcast, I've republished the very first interview I recorded back in 2012 with Mr. Money Mustache. In addition to the original interview, this episode also contains an updated introduction that tells the story behind the interview! Highlights: How Mr. Money Mustache and his wife retired in their early 30s Why he decided to start writing about financial independence The benefits of raising children after you’ve already retired What MMM likes most about early retirement Why you need to ride a bike

On today’s episode of the Financial Independence Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve from ThinkSaveRetire.com! Steve initially planned to retire at the age of 40 but after making some drastic lifestyle changes, he ended up walking away from his job at 35. One of the biggest factors that reduced his time to FI was his and his wife’s decision to sell nearly everything they owned and move into an Airstream. If you have dreams of spending your early retirement traveling around North America in an RV, this episode is for you! We dive into the costs of RV life, the benefits of drastic downsizing, and Steve’s advice for anyone who wants to hit the road after retirement! Highlights: How to shed the golden handcuffs The problem with promotions and the joy of stepping off the ladder The costs of living in an RV full-time Using a health share ministry for health insurance and going to Mexico for dental work Why you should start with a smaller RV than you think you need

I can’t believe it… One of the founders of the financial independence movement, Vicki Robin, joined me for an episode of the Financial Independence Podcast! Vicki and her partner Joe Dominguez wrote the book, Your Money or Your Life – a New York Times Best Seller that many people consider to be the bible of financial independence (the FI-ble?). Your Money or Your Life is actually what inspired me to create the FI Laboratory many years ago. Vicki has been a driving force in the FI community since the 1960s and has a wealth of knowledge and inspiring stories to share so hope you enjoy the interview! Highlights: The story behind Your Money or Your Life How Joe was able to retire at the age of 31 in 1969 with $70,000 in the bank Why Vicki’s quest to change the world didn’t succeed (yet) How a stage-3 cancer diagnosis changed her plans What’s going to be different in the new version of Your Money or Your Life What she believes are the most important steps in the Your Money or Your Life program How the book’s investment advice has changed and what she is current investing in

Later this year, at the ages of 38 and 41, the couple behind OurNextLife.com will be quitting the stressful, time-consuming jobs that they’ve held for most of their adult lives and will be retiring to a life in the mountains. This is particularly interesting to me because one of my dreams is to live on the side of the mountain and get a part-time ski patrol job. Because really, what could be better than waking up early after a big snowfall, grabbing a cup of coffee with your buddies, then strapping on your skis and heading up the mountain to throw bombs and trigger avalanches? Join me for a Financial Independence Podcast interview with Ms. ONL to hear all about this exciting transition to the mountains and to find out what their next life has in store for them! Highlights: What to do if you’re not naturally frugal Why you should gradually trim your expenses if your spending is high The risk of losing your identity when leaving a long-term, time-consuming job Finding meaning after early retirement Using your money to help out your family What it’s like living in a ski town The additional costs of mountain life How to transition from the big city to the mountains Preparing for the two phases of early retirement  

After delivering an epic guest post on the tax advantages of investing in real estate, I asked Chad Carson from CoachCarson.com to join me on the podcast to hear more about his own experiences with real estate investing. Chad started with only $1,000 in the bank and was able to build up a real estate empire that now consists of over 90 units! It’s an incredible story of hard work, intelligent money management, and perseverance so listen to find out how he did it. And if you’ve ever wanted to know what it felt like to be a full-time real estate investor when the entire housing market collapsed in 2008, hear how Chad survived despite making over 50 acquisitions in 2007 alone! Highlights: How to get started in real estate with no money What is ‘bird dogging’? Why you should invest in something that’s simple and understandable The numerous ways to finance real estate purchases What it was like to survive the financial crisis as a real estate investor after making 50+ acquisitions in 2007 The importance of having a cash reserve Why you should house hack or do a live-in flip if you want to retire early What Chad would do if he was starting again and wanted to reach financial independence as quickly as possible Why you need to be cautious when considering passive real estate investing options How buying real estate to live in is much different than buying real estate as an investment