Podcast
BiggerPockets Money Podcast
Hosted by BiggerPockets · EN
Intermediate to advanced personal finance strategies for people serious about the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement—not just dreaming about it.
Tune in on Tuesdays and Fridays for new BiggerPockets Money episodes with your hosts, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench! Or visit BiggerPocketsMoney.com with additional resources.
203episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Messy Middle of Financial Independence (How to Stay Motivated)
Apr 2800:33:00Summary readyThe “messy middle” is the longest—and hardest—phase of the financial independence (FIRE) journey. It’s where progress feels slow, motivation dips, and burnout can creep in. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for today) break down how to stay consistent, avoid over-optimization, and actually enjoy life while building wealth. From increasing income and investing smarter to designing the life you want before you retire, this is your guide to getting through the messy middle without losing momentum. If your FIRE journey feels stuck, this episode will help you reset and keep going. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Carl Jensen: https://www.1500days.com/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryFrom $69K Debt to Financial Independence in NYC
Apr 2400:31:16Summary readyKim Hunter Borst didn’t start her financial independence journey in New York City—but it’s where everything changed. After building a high-income life, she and her husband found themselves $69,000 in debt from lifestyle inflation. Instead of leaving NYC, they got intentional—cutting expenses, leveraging a rent-stabilized apartment, and maxing out retirement accounts. Now, they’ve achieved financial independence and retired early—proving you don’t have to leave a high-cost city to build real wealth. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Kim Hunter Borst: Website: https://khbfinancial.com/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryPaula Pant Quit Her Job with $25K (Now She’s FI in NYC)
Apr 2300:33:43Summary readyPaula quit her $32,000 job in 2008—before she’d ever heard of the FIRE movement—with just $25,000 saved to travel the world. When she came back, she started freelancing and made a pivotal decision: buying a triplex and house hacking. That one move changed everything. Today, she’s fully financially independent in New York City through real estate—all without ever earning more than $32K at her day job. In this episode, we break down how she did it, the risks she took early on, and the strategy that turned a modest income into long-term financial freedom. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Paula Pant: Website: https://affordanything.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulapant We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryShe Retired at 39… After Moving to New York City
Apr 2200:42:48Summary readyMost people think you need to leave expensive cities to reach financial independence. Walli Miller did the opposite. After discovering the FIRE movement in 2015, Walli Miller moved to New York City—one of the highest cost-of-living cities in the world—and still retired at 39 with her husband, on a combined income under $200K/yr. In this episode, we break down how they made it work, from intentional spending and leveraging NYC’s free lifestyle to redefining what financial independence actually looks like. If you think FIRE isn’t possible in a high-cost city, this episode might change your mind. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Walli Miller: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financially_thriving/ Website: https://financiallythriving.com/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryCoast FI by 30 in a HCOL City (Here’s How He’s Doing it)
Apr 2100:37:44Summary readyIn this episode, discover how Eli, a 24-year-old living in NYC, is on track to hit financial independence and retire early—despite the city’s high living costs. His strategies and mindset shift challenge common perceptions about NYC being an obstacle to FIRE. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Eli Saperstein: Sparks FI Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H2qxCTm6bZ40Dj72ORkLXg?mode=gi_t Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stresslessaboutmoney?igsh=ZHF5cjZnbm13dzdr We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary9 Things No One Tells You About Financial Independence
Apr 1700:42:29Summary readyIn this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for the week!) break down 9 financial independence (FIRE) lessons most people don’t discover until it’s too late. From the hidden downsides of early retirement to spending, purpose, and relationships, this episode covers what actually changes after you reach FI—and how to avoid the mistakes that can quietly derail your life. Whether you're pursuing FIRE or already financially independent, these insights will help you build a more sustainable, fulfilling life. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow This Teacher Reached Financial Independence with Rentals
Apr 1400:50:48Summary readyCorby Goade went from a modest teacher salary to financial independence through real estate investing—and he did it by mastering the fundamentals. In this episode, he shares how house hacking, long-term rentals, and smart leverage helped him build wealth over 25 years, even through the 2008 housing crash. Learn practical strategies for navigating market cycles, scaling a rental portfolio, and achieving financial freedom without a high income. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Corby Goade: Website: https://boise-turnkey.appointlet.com/b/corby-goade BiggerPockets: https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/cgoade#0 We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryRetiring Early in 5 Years? Do THIS First
Apr 1000:41:43Summary readyThinking about early retirement in the next 5 years? This episode breaks down exactly how to prepare—financially and emotionally—so you don’t just retire early, but stay retired. Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench walk through the critical steps to stress test your portfolio, plan for healthcare costs, optimize your tax strategy, and build a realistic withdrawal plan. Plus, they cover the often-overlooked side of FIRE: your health, purpose, and lifestyle design. If you’re in the “messy middle” or approaching financial independence, this is your blueprint to confidently retire early without costly mistakes. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow She Quit Full-Time Work at 27 Without Millions (Coast FI)
Apr 700:46:59Summary readyWhat if you didn’t have to grind your way to financial independence? In this episode, Alyssa shares how she reached Coast FI by prioritizing flexibility, intentional spending, and what she calls “hobby jobs” over traditional full-time work. After leaving a high-stress healthcare career, she designed a life of part-time income, travel, and freedom—proving you can build wealth while actually enjoying your life along the way. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Connect with Alyssa: Blog: https://theprofessionalnursedropout.substack.com/ We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryCan He Retire in 10 Years? (We Ran the Numbers)
Apr 300:57:31Summary readyIs a $2M net worth enough to retire in 10 years? In this Finance Friday episode, Mindy and Scott break down a real “messy middle” case study—Karl, a high-saving household navigating early retirement planning, rising expenses, healthcare costs, and market uncertainty after doing everything right. You’ll learn how to evaluate your FI timeline using the 4% rule, safe withdrawal strategies, portfolio diversification, and tax-efficient investing across 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, and brokerage accounts. They also cover sequence of returns risk, Roth conversion strategies, and how to balance active income with long-term wealth building. If you’re wondering whether you’re truly on track for early retirement—or how to turn your net worth into lasting financial freedom—this episode gives you the frameworks and numbers to find out. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/resources Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Resources from this episode: KFF Health Insurance Calculator: https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/ Rising Healthcare Costs in Early Retirement Article: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/why-healthcare-costs-rise-sharply-with-age-in-early-retirement-and-why-early-retirees-need-a-bigger-buffer-than-the-4-rule/ Personal Financial Statement: biggerpocketsmoney.com/resources We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary