Mile High FI Podcast

Doug chats with Producer Chris about a variety of topics including irrational money fears, why people commonly talk about their work in social settings, and what their day-to-day lives look like in early retirement. They explore common financial anxieties such as the fear of running out of money and how past experiences shape these fears. They share strategies for steering conversations away from work and towards more engaging subjects like travel and hobbies. Finally, they provide a glimpse into their daily routines, highlighting the freedom and fulfillment that early retirement and semi-retirement offers. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Links Bill Perkins, “Die With Zero” Kindle Hardcover Paperback Audiobook Mark Trautman on MHFI episode 260 New ChooseFI Local site ChooseFI Puget Sound Meetup, May 31, 2025 MHFI Etsy Store MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s new blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 1:26 Fear of running out of money 8:56 Reacting to stock market volatility 15:01 Sequence of Returns Risk & flexibility 24:43 Why people talk about work 28:49 What else to talk about & complaining 33:27 Chris’s typical day 41:21 Doug’s typical day 49:12 Open time & Parkinson’s Law 56:27 Soundcheck – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Doug and Carl chat about some questions that listener Austin submitted regarding early retirement and withdrawal strategies.  They explore the nuances of early retirement, discussing happiness, daily life, and responsible financial drawdowns.   They also address withdrawal strategies, including rental properties, index funds, automated transfers, tax optimization, health insurance, and how to handle Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI episode 190 Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Links “An Introvert’s Guide to EconoMe and Other Conferences” on MHFI episode 257 Carla & Robert on MHFI episode 012 Arik Peterson on MHFI episode 090 Chris & Deb (Go Bucket Yourself) on MHFI episode 052 FI Calc Mad Fientist, Tax-Gain Harvesting Mad Fientist, How to Access Retirement Funds Early MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Producer Chris’s blog, Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 9:23 Post-FI life 18:58 What does FI look like? 27:05 Shifting interests 32:33 Passive income & rental properties 38:20 Index fund withdrawal strategy 45:30 Withdrawal amount 53:09 RMDs and tax strategies 1:03:51 Professional financial advice 1:13:01 Soundcheck – Paper notebooks

Mark Trautman, financial expert and host of Mark’s Money Mind, tackles the intriguing question of whether to pay off a low-interest mortgage or invest the funds instead. He highlights the psychological benefits of mortgage freedom alongside the potential financial rewards from investing. Their conversation dives into historical stock performance, the impact of market volatility, and how personal goals play a crucial role in financial decisions. This thoughtful dialogue balances financial strategy with emotional peace, making it a must-listen for anyone navigating mortgage dilemmas.

Mark Trautman brings his financial expertise to the discussion, focusing on the joys of non-frugal spending. He introduces the 'fun bucket' concept, a way to allocate guilt-free money for indulgences. The conversation dives into enjoying life without compromising financial freedom, exploring strategies like travel comfort and dining experiences. Mark shares personal anecdotes about upgrading lifestyle choices, from higher-end music gear to thoughtful consumer decisions, emphasizing a balanced approach to enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Doug and Kristen continue their conversation about travel hacking (picking up from MHFI 258), this time moving on to more advanced techniques & tips.  They discuss credit card referral bonuses, maximizing redemptions, airline alliances, the intricacies of business credit cards, and the Chase 5/24 rule.  Kristen also emphasizes the value of using tools & apps for tracking and optimizing points. You can check out all of Kristen’s notes here: https://milehighfi.com/travelhacking/ Kristen’s credit card referral links – she gets points if you use any of the links and it’s a great way to say thanks! #1 Beginner Travel Credit Card Chase Sapphire Preferred (or Reserve) Business Credit Cards Chase Ink Business Cards More From Chase IHG One Rewards Southwest Rapid Rewards American Express American Express Gold Card American Express Green Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Capital One Capital One Venture X Capital One Venture Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Links Connect with Kristen FI Friends Travel website Email: kristen@fifriendstravel.com Travel Freely App 10xTravel website 10xTravel Best Cards list 10xTravel Insiders Facebook Group Point.me Roame.travel Pointsyeah.com Credit Karma MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Producer Chris’s blog, Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 7:54 Understanding referrals 15:01 Points redemption 23:41 Airline alliances 29:20 Business cards & Chase 5/24 rule 36:35 Creative spending & signup bonuses 43:48 P2 strategies & Companion Pass 50:37 Travel hacking community 53:55 FI Friends Travel 58:02 Soundcheck – The long journey home

Doug chats with Kristen Knapp about the world of travel hacking, beginning with the basic principles and strategies for earning and maximizing points & miles.  Kristen shares her personal experience with travel hacking, highlights key rules and tips for getting started, offers practical advice on how to choose the right credit cards, the importance of being organized, and tips for utilizing various travel apps. You can check out all of Kristen’s notes here: https://milehighfi.com/travelhacking/ Kristen’s credit card referral links – she gets points if you use any of the links and it’s a great way to say thanks! #1 Beginner Travel Credit Card Chase Sapphire Preferred (or Reserve) Business Credit Cards Chase Ink Business Cards More From Chase IHG One Rewards Southwest Rapid Rewards American Express American Express Gold Card American Express Green Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Capital One Capital One Venture X Capital One Venture Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Links (*Some affiliate links so we might earn a commission if you buy something) Connect with Kristen FI Friends Travel website Email: kristen@fifriendstravel.com 10xTravel website 10xTravel Best Cards list 10xTravel Insiders Facebook Group Travel Freely App Michael Jackson, “Michael Jackson’s Great Beers of Belgium” MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Producer Chris’s blog, Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 12:17 Travel hacking basics 19:02 Maximizing points & miles 26:57 Credit card perks & annual fees 34:37 Understanding transferable points 43:07 Evaluating cards & opening strategies 50:04 Managing cards 56:52 Tracking credit card information 1:02:54 FI Friends Travel 1:10:45 Soundcheck – Home ownership struggles

Explore the intriguing link between happiness and income, supported by fascinating studies. Discover pivotal inflection points that transformed lives and perspectives on spending, especially the contrast between toys and memorable experiences. Dive into the joy of guitar trading while navigating financial insights and early retirement reflections. Enjoy a light-hearted look at quirky frugal habits and unique money-saving strategies that blend financial wisdom with personal fulfillment.

Doug chats with JT about practical, actionable strategies for introverts attending conferences like EconoMe, Camp FI, and others.  They cover topics such as social anxiety, taking breaks, participating in structured activities, and effectively interacting with content creators.  They also share tips on the types of questions to ask to keep conversations flowing, how to gracefully exit interactions, maintaining self-care during events, and the importance of not overextending oneself. This episode is brought to you by GhostBed.  Doug has the GhostBed Luxe Mattress and loves it!  Take the 3 minute sleep quiz to see which mattress is right for you.  Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, bed frame, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI) Save With Mint Mobile! (https://milehighfi.com/mint) New customers can get 3 months of unlimited premium wireless for $15/mo.  Doug’s phone bill went from $1440/yr to $360/yr for him and his wife.  It’s super easy to switch and you can use your existing phone.  If you use the MHFI link, it won’t cost you extra and it helps support the show. Looking for help with your estate plan?  Trust & Will provides online tools for creating, you guessed it… trusts and wills.  For those who don’t have any estate planning documents in place, this could be a good option to get started.  We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/trustandwill Need a fee only advisor?  Nectarine is a network of financial advisors where you just pay for investing & planning advice.  Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions. We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/nectarine Help Doug pay for all the stickers that he’ll be handing out at EconoMe by providing support at Buy Me A Coffee. Links (*Some affiliate links so we might earn a commission if you buy something) EconoMe Conference CampFI ChooseFI Local Groups Brad Barrett/ChooseFI FinCon Camp Mustache Charles Duhigg, “Supercommunicators” Kindle Hardcover Paperback Audiobook Carl Jensen Brian Feroldi Joe Saul-Sehy/Stacking Benjamins Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache ChooseFI Facebook group BiggerPockets Money Facebook group Jordan Grumet/Doc G MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 3:25 An introverted extrovert 9:01 Importance of self-care 12:44 Don’t be afraid to meet people 18:22 Take breaks & select which activities to attend  24:25 Navigating awkward conversations 28:58 Asking open-ended & deeper questions 35:52 Christmas PJs 41:29 Jumping into group conversations 45:47 Getting out of conversations 50:12 Approaching content creators 57:07 How to find others to talk to 1:04:11 Post-conference reflections 1:10:21 Soundcheck – Prepare, practice, & care less

Doug chats with friends Chris & JT from a partially-disclosed location in Breckenridge about a potpourri of topics.  The trio discusses happiness, dives into the controversial & confusing topic of tipping (with input from listener Kris), and provides their thoughts on high net-worth individuals (based on a correction pointed out by listener Bill). The group also analyzes Amber’s ambition of reaching FI by age 40-45 (full details below). Be sure to check out Chris’s music… His first single releases in March: http://chrisrusin.com/ Details of Amber’s Case Study: Midterm goal is to reach “Flamingo FI” ($625k) and then find a job to keep active and covers expenses until investments grow into full FI number ($1.25M).  Ultimate goal is to reach FI by age 40-45 and continue living a similar lifestyle, but not retire completely.  Will be turning 27 in less than 2 months. Owns a home and house hacks (with parents as renters).  Planning for herself at the moment but hoping to get married in the future at which point she would kick parents out of the house! “Goldilocks” budget is about $50K/year and includes the monthly mortgage payment as part of the expenses, with no plan to pay off the house early. Current financial numbers: Salary – $80k 401k – At least get the match, but have maxed out for the past 2 years and plan to continue Roth IRA – Always Max Out HSA – Always Max Out This episode is brought to you by GhostBed.  Doug has the GhostBed Luxe Mattress and loves it!  Take the 3 minute sleep quiz to see which mattress is right for you.  Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, bed frame, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI) Save With Mint Mobile! (https://milehighfi.com/mint) New customers can get 3 months of unlimited premium wireless for $15/mo.  Doug’s phone bill went from $1440/yr to $360/yr for him and his wife.  It’s super easy to switch and you can use your existing phone.  If you use the MHFI link, it won’t cost you extra and it helps support the show. Looking for help with your estate plan?  Trust & Will provides online tools for creating, you guessed it… trusts and wills.  For those who don’t have any estate planning documents in place, this could be a good option to get started.  We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/trustandwill Need a fee only advisor?  Nectarine is a network of financial advisors where you just pay for investing & planning advice.  Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions. We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/nectarine Help Doug afford one of those delicious Popeye’s chicken sandwiches by providing support at Buy Me A Coffee. Links (*Some affiliate links so we might earn a commission if you buy something) Connect with Chris Chris’s Music Life Outside The Maze Carl Jensen Carl incorrectly quoting Warren Buffet’s Net Worth on MFHI episode 248 Forbes, “Warren Buffett Profile” Forbes, “The World’s Real-Time Billionaires” Jordan Grumet Jordan Grumet, “The Purpose Code” Kindle Hardcover Paperback Audiobook Jordan Grumet on MHFI episode 249 Cal Newport Daniel Kahneman’s happiness studies Happiness study that Chris references, “Happiness, Income Satiation, and Turning Points Around the World” CampFI EconoMe Conference MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 9:48 Tipping 16:56 Deliveries & haircuts 24:26 High net worth individuals 29:29 Amber’s case study 34:35 Reflections from Chris & Doug’s FI journeys 40:20 Earn money & leveraging experience 47:54 Happiness 54:11 Soundcheck – The Tape Technique

Doug and guest host Kristen Knapp chat with Colorado native Suzy about her financial independence journey and world travel with her family, including extended periods of time living abroad.  Suzy shares her journey toward Coast FI, early money mistakes, taking sabbaticals, and the importance of community.  She elaborates on her family’s experience with worldschooling, the benefits of living in Spain (both cultural & financial), the intricacies of living abroad, and how her family managed healthcare. This episode is brought to you by GhostBed.  Doug has the GhostBed Luxe Mattress and loves it!  Take the 3 minute sleep quiz to see which mattress is right for you.  Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, bed frame, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI) Save With Mint Mobile! (https://milehighfi.com/mint) New customers can get 3 months of unlimited premium wireless for $15/mo.  Doug’s phone bill went from $1440/yr to $360/yr for him and his wife.  It’s super easy to switch and you can use your existing phone.  If you use the MHFI link, it won’t cost you extra and it helps support the show. Looking for help with your estate plan?  Trust & Will provides online tools for creating, you guessed it… trusts and wills.  For those who don’t have any estate planning documents in place, this could be a good option to get started.  We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/trustandwill Need a fee only advisor?  Nectarine is a network of financial advisors where you just pay for investing & planning advice.  Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions. We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up.  Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/nectarine Help Doug pay for a future trip to Spain so he can visit both Kristen & Suzy by providing support at Buy Me A Coffee. Links Connect with Suzy “Your Family Money” Instagram Email: info@yourfamilymoney.com Connect with Kristen FI Friends Travel website Email: kristen@fifriendstravel.com Carl Jensen EconoMe Conference Diania Merriam Mr. Money Mustache Amberly Grant Boundless Life Worldschool Worldschool Pop-Up HUB MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s new blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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 Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 9:12 Suzy’s background & finding FI 15:02 Suzy’s husband’s financial journey 20:07 Money mistakes 25:08 First sabbatical & worldschooling 33:55 Living in Spain & embracing the culture 39:42 Cost of living in Spain 44:58 Navigating healthcare abroad 50:53 Kristen’s Spanish ambitions 55:20 Current work situation & desire to help others 1:03:56 Soundcheck – Colorado