Mile High FI Podcast

Brandon, the Mad Fientist, has changed his view on FIRE and spending over the years. This is a rebroadcast of the interview from early 2022, and there is a new introduction in the first few minutes. Bradon has been on a bunch of podcasts in the last few months, and he's embracing spending. So you might have heard Brandon on Choose FI, Bigger Pockets Money, or his own podcast talking to Ramit Sethi about spending more and trying to be less frugal. So it's cool to hear how he has changed his views over time. - Carl and Brandon reminisce about their first meeting almost 10 years ago! - Discovering JD Roth and FIRE - Mad Fientist: new features coming soon to the FI Laboratory - How to spend money or not (The Switzerland Incident) - Michelin 3 star restaurants versus Taco Bell - Where is the FIRE movement going? - Why the Mad Fientist loves routines - For the love of coding Links Mad Fientist - Financial Independence and Early Retirement Mad Fientist's Music Travel Credit Cards Get Rich Slowly - Personal finance that makes sense The Escape Artist Mr. Money Mustache -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com

Doug and Carl answer a potpourri of audience questions at CampFI Rocky Mountain with help from Becky Heptig (Catching up to FI) and Mark Trautman (Mark’s Money Mind). Best place to invest money in today’s environment? Best budget travel places? How to find your niche in the podcast world? What is a failure you experienced? What caused dinosaurs to become extinct? At what point in a relationship do you start having financial conversations? What’s better - increasing income or decreasing expenses? Who should pay for the first date? How to date while FI? What sets your podcast apart? What do you wish for your podcast audience to do better? How do you keep your podcast from becoming an echo chamber? Best first credit card? Who has experience with whole life insurance/infinite banking? Where can I find a financially independent man/partner? Withdrawal frequency with 4% rule? What would you improve about the FI community? What’s the craziest financial mistake you’ve seen someone make? Best type of property to invest in? What was the pivotal moment in your FI journey? Is FI a fad or does it have staying power? What is the best way to increase your rental income? Adding children to parents’ insurance policy? Do you have a question that you want answered? If so, you can email us or head over to Buy Me A Coffee where you can also support the show. Links CampFI Catching up to FI Mark’s Money Mind Mr. Money Mustache ChooseFI Jacob Lund Fisker Ramit Sethi Econome FI Freedom Retreat Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 2:05 Budget travel 9:36 Finances in relationships & dating 16:00 Podcast questions 23:33 FI community improvements 30:53 Is FI a fad? 38:30 Mark’s fun bucket

Doug and Amberly chat about key tenants of Financial Independence, shifts in the community over the years, and how each of them have “failed” in different FI-related areas (along with some successes).  Amberly also shares details of an upcoming FI cruise! Change in FI philosophy from a focus on saving to spending & living a fulfilling life. Doug & Amberly’s FI failures: credit card points/travel rewards, budgeting & tracking expenses, 4% rule, optimizing contributions to retirement accounts, savings rate, frugality, whole life insurance, house hacking, college degrees, travel, buying a new home, Success with mindful consumption Amberly’s experience with CNBC & dealing with early retirement critics Trying to maintain your FI Membership Card? One way to do this is by supporting us at Buy Me A Coffee.  (Disclaimer: No actual membership card will be provided) Links Mad Fientist ChooseFI Travel Rewards The Fioneers Mark’s Money Mind Fincon Amberly on CNBC Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days Connect with Amberly Grant! AmberlyGrant.com FinTalks Instagram Facebook -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:56 FinTalks cruise 7:57 Shifts in the FIRE community 14:52 Failure #1: Travel rewards 22:42 Failure #2: Budgeting & expense tracking 35:38 Failure #3: 4% rule 38:37 Failure #4: Optimizing retirement contributions 46:15 Failure #5: Savings rate 48:25 Failure #6: Frugality 1:00:40 Misc failures & mindful consumption 1:09:35 Criticism of early retirement 1:18:20 Soundcheck - Hot sauce

Doug and Carl talk to Chris Hutchins about life hacks, optimization, and key takeaways/changes driven by the book “Die with Zero”.  Chris also discusses his podcast “All the Hacks” and his plans to further evolve the brand. Chris’s passion for digging deep into content that interests him Taking “All the Hacks” from not only a podcast, but to a platform that builds community through a membership program (dubbed the “AAA for our generation") Misconceptions about life hacks - looking for shortcuts vs. putting in the work for better outcomes “Die with Zero” takeaways - maximizing life vs. net worth, time bucketing, providing inheritances before death One of the best hacks is supporting Mile High FI.  Come on over to Buy Me A Coffee to start optimizing your life today! Links Chris Hutchins: All the Hacks All the Hacks Membership Bill Perkins episode Arthur Brooks episode Ramit Sethi Tim Ferriss Playing with Fire movie Rich Roll, Why You Shouldn’t Hack Your Life Bill Perkins, Die With Zero Trust & Will Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Ramit Sethi 7:18 Building the podcast 14:34 Chris’s origin story 24:22 Optimization failures 33:24 “Die With Zero” takeaways 44:48 Estate planning 50:09 Chris’s favorite episode & hack

Inspired by the book Die With Zero, Doug and Dusti discuss buckets lists & time buckets and provide personal examples/goals from their own lives. Definition of bucket lists and time buckets Doug & Dusti’s backgrounds, life expectations, goals, and personal time buckets by decade. Bucket planning - with a partner vs. alone, need for flexibility Is supporting Mile High FI on your bucket list? If so, head on over to Buy Me A Coffee. Links Bill Perkins, Die With Zero Stanford Definition of Bucket List Business Insider Definition of Time Buckets Peter Attia, Outlive Leckerlee Cookies Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks Thom Lafond Connect with Dusti: Instagram Facebook Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 7:01 Bucket lists 15:38 Time buckets 21:17 Doug & Dusti’s background/life expectations 34:14 Impact of activity & fitness 45:00 What’s in Doug & Dusti’s time buckets 55:43 Planning 1:06:35 Soundcheck - Dancing Doug

Doug and Carl talk about a case study submitted by New Jersey Steve! It turns out that Steve is doing really well, but could still use some gentle nudges. Steve’s money situation (he’s doing really well!) Should Steve take the new job? Identity and purpose after leaving work Leaving money on the table Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. It’s the right thing to do. Don’t wait, act now! Links Doc G’s book: Taking Stock Nate Bargatze - Worst time traveler Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:23 TV show recommendations 8:49 Steve’s questions & initial analysis 14:02 Identity crisis 24:54 Squandering opportunities 33:32 How to make a decision 38:05 Value of time vs. money 43:17 Final thoughts 48:56 Soundcheck - Egyptologist

Carl was harassed by a YouTube troll. Now, he wants to know how to deal with insults. Doug is immune from criticism, so Carl asked him about his stoic ways. Carl tells the story of the troll Does Doug consider himself to be stoic? You don’t matter The traffic situation that makes Doug mad Do you love Mile High FI? I hope so because we love you. We really do. Show us your love by supporting us: Buy Me A Coffee. Links Jocko podcast: Are the insults about you true? Mr. Money Mustache on BiggerPockets Money Derek Sivers Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:10 Whiskey 8:34 Doug’s Stoicism journey 15:16 Handling criticism 24:33 Letting go of stress & anxiety 32:46 External validation 39:27 Carl’s Stoic aspirations 44:33 Lowering stress by doing less 52:45 Soundcheck - Writer’s retreat

Doug and Carl talk about Craig’s money situation. 4% Rule. Yet again. Craig is KILLING it. He REALLY needs to quit. Navigating the ACA. What to do with yourself in retirement. Do you want to support Mile High FI? Yes? Great, that's what we were hoping to hear! Come on over to Buy Me A Coffee. Links Die With Zero Arik Peterson Health insurance: Carl and Mindy used this free service to find an ACA plan. It worked great! The service gets paid by the insurance company for the referral. Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:28 Lazy book ideas 9:20 Craig’s questions & initial analysis 16:55 Die With Zero 26:22 Healthcare 30:12 How to fill the time 39:38 Final advice 46:25 Soundcheck - Hydration

Living in a van down by the river used to be for the destitute. Now, all of the cool kids are doing it. Doug and Carl talk about van life with Teri Slater, a Longmont local and friend. Teri is a financial expert with a remarkable story. She got out of 200K in debt, having some very difficult conversations along the way with a spendy partner. Now, she’s building a van to begin the next journey of her life. Getting out of big debt Choosing a van Van conversions Road trips Starlink satellite internet Eating healthy on the road Full costs revealed Do you think that Mile High FI is a great listen? Well then, support us! It’s quick and easy over at Buy Me A Coffee. Links Teri’s Instagram Van Life Academy Harvest Hosts Boondockers Welcome Trusted Housesitters Doug’s site Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:25 Intro to Teri Slater 5:11 Getting out of debt 9:49 Van build out 20:50 Planning where to go 25:39 Starlink 31:58 Daily routine & organization 36:57 Eating on the road 40:43 Van life expenses 48:50 Reflections & perfect day 54:10 Soundcheck - Omaha

Carl and Mindy were on Ramit Sethi’s podcast. Why? How? When? Doug gets answers. Why do this? What was the experience like? Stop using the word “optimization!” Surprising advice Changes Do you think that Mile High FI is a great listen? Well then, support us! It’s quick and easy over at Buy Me A Coffee.   Links I Will Teach You To Be Rich Episode 108: “We achieved FIRE with $4.3M. Why can’t we enjoy it?” Ramit on Mad FIentist Support Mile High FI Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post. Carl’s blog: 1500 Days -- Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles 1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:51 Why go on Ramit’s podcast? 6:15 What the experience was like 13:40 Issues to solve 19:37 Key takeaways 27:38 Small steps towards change 35:46 “Die With Zero” criticism 42:08 Impact of the interview 50:30 Podcast takeaways & tips 56:40 Cleaning 1:02:20 Soundcheck - Costco grand opening