539: Finance Friday: Can I Comfortably Retire by 50 with My Current Portfolio?

541: Finance Friday: I've Got $150K Student Debt at 6.95%, Should I Invest?: Student loan debt can easily get in the way of financial independence, especially if there’s a high interest rate attached to your loans. But should you pay down this debt at the expense of investing for the future? There are several factors we’re going to explore in today’s episode! Lauren is a physician assistant with a stable W2 job, a house hack, and a side hustle that provides her with a little “fun” money each month. But as she and her partner work toward their goal of reaching FI in twenty years, they’ve got some money issues to work out—namely, how to tackle the $150,000 in student loans hanging over their heads. Should they pay down this debt, invest in real estate, or both? Should they put their retirement contributions on hold? One day, they hope to travel the world and enjoy their favorite pastime, kitesurfing! But should they fast-track this dream before planning for a family? Lauren is at a cro by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

75 min listen

540: Renting vs. Buying a Home in 2024 and Do You Have Enough in Your 401(k)?: Renting vs. buying a house: when it comes to FIRE, many people assume that you must own a home and preferably have it paid off to reach financial freedom. But is this really true? With renting so much cheaper than buying in 2024, would it be wiser to rent a place and send the savings to your investment accounts? Today, we’re tackling this topic and a few other heavy hitters as we give our takes on four of the hottest financial headlines. Kyle Mast, certified financial planner, joins Scott Trench to share FIRE-first thoughts on these not-so-easy-to-answer questions. First, we give our take on the ever-relevant renting vs. buying debate and ask whether things have changed since high mortgage rates have made buying a home much more expensive. Then, how do you manage savings and investments with interest rates so high—should you keep your money in a high-yield savings account or search for better opportunities by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

51 min listen

538: Late Start, Early Retirement: The Huge Advantages of Investing Later in Life: Are you a late starter who wants to reach retirement (or early retirement)? Then we’ve got just what you need! We’re back with Bill Yount and Jackie Cummings Koski from the Catching Up to FI podcast as we share how to invest for retirement as a “late starter.” Did you know there are some serious advantages to investing later in life? Some of these advantages are so secret that even our hosts didn’t know about them! But today, we’re sharing them with you so you can achieve financial freedom on your terms! From top to bottom, we’re sharing everything you need to retire sooner—from the best retirement accounts to debating 401(k)s vs. Roth IRAs vs. HSAs and more! Worried about healthcare if you retire before you turn sixty-five? DO NOT put your retirement plans on pause because of this! With some smart healthcare saving and investing, you won’t have to worry about visits to the doctor’s office! But before by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

66 min listen

537: Late Start, Early Retirement: A Step-by-Step Guide to Get On Track to FI: Got a late start on your retirement planning? Do you feel like you missed the boat and won’t be able to retire on your timeline? We’ve got good news for you in today’s episode—it’s never too late for retirement (and even EARLY retirement!). No matter what age you’re at, how much you have in the bank, and how much you make, you CAN retire on your terms, and our guests will prove it. The question is, will you follow through on their time-tested system for reaching retirement? Bill Yount and Jackie Cummings Koski from the Catching Up to FI podcast are here to show you that whatever your situation is, you can get on track for retirement. Bill and Jackie both were late starters, only taking retirement seriously decades after starting their working careers. Even with their “late start,” Bill and Jackie were able to massively multiply their net worths and retirement savings, allowing them to reach financial freedo by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

42 min listen

536: My Property Manager Robbed and Ghosted Me ($40K Stolen!): If you get your property management wrong, you could lose tens of thousands of dollars. A sketchy property manager could take all your rent and run, leaving you with the bills and no hope of recovering your long-lost rent checks. That’s precisely what happened to today’s guest, a seasoned real estate investor who’s even looked up to as an expert in the industry. Even he made a sizable property management mistake, and in this episode, we’re trying to help you avoid the same fate. The BiggerPockets Podcast Network is bringing you a crossover episode with the Real Estate Rookie podcast’s Ashley Kehr and the BiggerPockets Money podcast’s Scott Trench. Scott is not only the host of BiggerPockets Money but also the CEO of BiggerPockets. And today, he’s sharing every painful detail about how he lost over $40,000 by hiring a bad property manager. This IS an avoidable mistake, but some easily overlooked red flags could put you in t by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

53 min listen

535: Achieving FIRE in Her 40s By Taking "Calculated" Risks: What would it take for you to achieve financial freedom? Now, think about what it would take for you to achieve it for your family. Many of us have parents we’ve seen work day in and day out, providing for us when it meant putting their dreams on the back burner. But what if you could repay your parents for all they’ve done for you, helping them retire and ensuring they can truly live the life they love without worrying about money? That’s exactly what today’s guest did for her mother and herself. After her parents divorced when she was a teenager, Delyanne Barros began what seemed like a two-decade-long non-stop grind. Fearing what would happen to not only herself but her family if she didn’t provide, Delyanne chose to go to law school to not only help those in need but also bring home a steady paycheck that would support her and her mother. After realizing that the nine-to-five grind wasn’t what she thought, Delyanne began by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

53 min listen

534: Coast FI at 24 and a $99K Net Worth Thanks to a Few Years of Pure Hustle: Could Coast FI be your BEST path to financial independence? Maybe you don’t want to retire early—not yet, at least. Hustle for a few years, invest your money, and watch it snowball instead! This twenty-four-year-old saved nearly $100,000 with this strategy, and in today’s episode, she’ll show you how to do the same! Emma von Weise was determined to take control of her finances at a very early age, getting her first job at just fourteen years old and saving money at every opportunity. This allowed her to not only escape college debt-free but also build a $99,000 net worth, a figure that will make her Coast FI until retirement—which isn’t on the radar anytime soon! Using her newfound financial freedom, Emma has built her “dream” life by working in a field she loves and taking plenty of time off to travel. In this episode, Emma shares about all of the different jobs and side hustles she took up to supercharge by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

57 min listen

533: What Even We Didn’t Know About “Protecting” Our Wealth: Are you working towards FIRE or building a financial legacy? Then DON’T skip this episode! What’s the point of creating generational wealth if it will be lost after you’re gone? Jenny Rozelle, estate and elder attorney, is back on the show to answer some of our most pressing questions about wills, trusts, estate planning, and everything in between! She’s got some answers that even personal finance experts Mindy and Scott didn’t know. And if you’re just starting to think about preserving your future wealth, this episode may shock you, too. From “napkin” wills to bad inheritances, protecting your heirs’ wealth from potential future divorce, and whether or not you’re owed millions after your tipsy Aunt promised you her vacation home, Jenny clears up all the misconceptions that most Americans have about inheritance and estate planning. Plus, if you’ve got children or loved ones you’re planning to pass your wealth on to, it’s c by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

35 min listen

532: Building Generational Wealth? Don’t Lose It with This ONE Critical Mistake: You’re working hard to build wealth, but without estate planning, your assets could easily land in the wrong hands, causing your family a great deal of trouble. No one likes thinking about their death, but you NEED to tackle this issue head-on if you hope to preserve your legacy! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, we’re tackling two of the most taboo topics—death and money—with estate and elder attorney Jenny Rozelle. If you’re nearly ready to retire, you MUST develop an estate plan. Otherwise, intestate succession laws will determine your fortune’s fate. Even if you’re young and have little to your name, there are basic steps you can take today to ensure that your current and future assets don’t go to the wrong person. In this episode, you’ll learn how to find the BEST estate planning attorney and prepare for your first meeting. Jenny also shares the truth behind probate and why it by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

46 min listen

531: Financial Freedom in 9 Steps: The Money Guy’s Financial Order of Operations: If you follow these nine steps, you will reach financial independence. How do we know? Well, The Money Guy Show’s Brian Preston and Bo Hanson have tested it hundreds of times! Using this simple but extremely powerful “financial order of operations,” anyone from any background can achieve FIRE, even starting with nothing. From free money to becoming easily debt-free, building a solid financial foundation, and even paying off your mortgage early, Brian and Bo break down the exact route to financial freedom anyone can take. But first, we’ll discover if you’re a “financial mutant.” The fact that you’re listening to BiggerPockets Money already proves that you might be. But for those who have struggled with high-interest credit card debt, low savings, and lackluster investing, this episode has EVERYTHING you need to become a financial powerhouse by making nine smart money moves. We’ll walk through the entire by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

58 min listen

530: Reaching $1M Net Worth and FI in 6 Years with a “Home Run” Rental Property: You DON’T have to spend your entire life chasing financial independence. Play your cards right, and you may not even need a whole decade! With a little hard work and sacrifice, today’s guest became a millionaire (and financially free) in just SIX years! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! After years of “drifting” through life and racking up bad debt, Erichad a moment when he realized he might not be able to rely on his W2 income for as long as he had hoped. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to get serious about achieving financial independence—buying rental properties, fixing them up, and eventually flipping them for a huge profit. One “home run” deal catapulted him toward his FI goal and a $1 million net worth! If you dream of financial freedom but don’t want to spend your whole life getting there, this episode is for you! Eric offers some helpful advice for those who are looking by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

47 min listen

529: FI by 25: How to Buy Time and Freedom with a Few Years of Frugal Living: Financial independence by the age of twenty-five?! Today’s guest started working and saving money at a very early age, which allowed him to buy the time and freedom to do the things he values most. Whether you’re twenty-five or fifty-five, applying some of these simple principles to your own life can propel you toward financial freedom! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, we’re chatting with Gabe Bult, a YouTuber, serial entrepreneur, and real estate investor who reached financial independence before his twenty-fifth birthday—all by subscribing to financial minimalism and frugal living. The only thing stopping him from retiring early? Sheer boredom! Instead, Gabe’s day typically involves precious time with his daughter, a few hours making YouTube videos, and an afternoon spent enjoying his favorite hobbies and interests. YOU can have this life, too, but not without a little sacrifice, ed by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

47 min listen

528: The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Taxes, LLCs, Deductions, & Audit Risks: Starting your first or next business? This episode is for you. Today, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about small business taxes for beginners. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, partner, landlord, house flipper, Airbnb host, or something in between, you MUST know about these tax laws before you start making money with your own business because if you get them wrong, you could be paying a MASSIVE penalty come tax time. You could save yourself thousands, or TENS of thousands, just by tuning in! Brandon Hall, CPA, runs a real-estate-focused tax and accounting firm for big and small real estate investors. But, even if you’re not investing in real estate, these tax tips also apply to YOU. In today’s episode, we threw dozens of hard-hitting tax questions at Brandon so you know what to do with your next side hustle or full-blown business. We’ll discuss whether you need an LLC, the real benefits by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

57 min listen

527: Retired at 49 on an Average Salary after Getting a “Late Start” to FIRE: Think it’s too late for early retirement? Do you feel like just because you’re in your late thirties, forties, or fifties, FIRE doesn’t make sense for you? Well, think again because today’s guest defied the odds by retiring over fifteen years early, all while raising her daughter on her own and without a six-figure salary to sail her swiftly to a million-dollar net worth. Plus, she did all of it with no investing experience. If Jackie Cummings Koski can do it, so can you! Jackie grew up in a single-parent household. Her father worked hard to support her and her five siblings. This instilled a strong work ethic in Jackie and made her realize that running towards hard things, not away from them, was the true path to success. She figured out college on her own and, shortly after, landed a corporate job that took her far away from the small town she grew up in. She got married and had her daughter, but then ever by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

47 min listen

526: Personal Finance for Beginners: Bank Accounts, Real Estate, and Retirement: Personal finance doesn’t have to be complicated. Saving, investing, and retiring early shouldn’t be a stumbling path to wealth, but many Americans feel this way. So, to clear up some of the money misconceptions, we’re doing personal finance for beginners FAQ episode, where we take some of the most common money questions and answer them for you so you can start building wealth and get closer to financial independence! Many of these questions come directly from the BiggerPockets Money Facebook page, where you can ask your money questions 24/7! First, we answer, “How many bank accounts should you have?” and walk through exactly how we split up our money. If you’re looking to start building wealth, we touch on the numerous ways to invest in real estate, from basic beginner investing strategies to purely passive income-generating expert tactics. How much money do YOU need to retire? With the 4% rule, you can by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

48 min listen

525: The Rational Investor’s Case Against Bitcoin: Cryptocurrency enthusiasts can’t fathom why Bitcoin will fail. If you tell them that you’re not investing in Bitcoin or other cryptos, they look at you like an uneducated investor, a sheep following the crowd without thinking for yourself. The promise of Bitcoin is so great that you’d have to be an outright fool to deny it, and anyone who refutes the future golden age of a decentralized society is simply mistaken and is only coping with the oncoming collapse of fiat currency and Western civilization. The problem with that theory? None of it is grounded in reality. Today, BiggerPockets CEO Scott Trench is going to prove it. After years of research on Bitcoin, the blockchain, and cryptocurrency as a whole, Scott has come to a simple conclusion: Bitcoin isn’t worth it. In fact, Bitcoin may be worth, unsurprisingly, nothing! But before all you Bitcoin maximalists come out of the woodwork, claiming we’re forever bullish on index funds and by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

38 min listen

524: Lessons From the Rich That Took Me from $0 to a $1,000,000+ Business: Want to be a millionaire or build a business that brings in seven figures? Want generational wealth and to be debt-free? Want to know that you have enough money to take big risks while still keeping your bank account safe? If so, you need to start thinking like the rich to begin building wealth the same way they do. “That may be easy for you to say, you host the BiggerPockets Money Podcast!” Well, don’t take it from us; take it from Marc Russell. Marc grew up without advantages. He was in foster care for as long as he could remember, bouncing from house to house until finally, at age thirteen, he was adopted by parents with a strong, valuable work ethic. When Marc went to college, he had no money to pay for it, so he fought tooth and nail with the financial aid office to find scholarships, loans, or anything that could help him graduate. He was even kicked out of school once over not being able to pay a $900 fe by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

48 min listen

523: Americans Say THIS Is How Much You Need to Retire (More Than You'd Think): Is a six-figure salary enough to achieve FIRE? If you’re working towards financial independence, you know that any extra money at the end of the month can help propel you to your goals faster, but with inflation eating away most, if not all, of your paycheck, what do you do? If you want to reach early retirement, do you need a massive salary to save you from the high cost of rent, food, gas, and other everyday essentials? Or, can you easily retire with a $100K/year incomeif you make the right moves? Let’s find out! Today, Scott and Kyle are reviewing some of the hottest headlines in the world of personal finance and giving you their honest opinions. First, we talk about whether or not a six-figure salary is enough to achieve the “American Dream,” and if it isn’t, what YOU can do to make the most of that money. Then, we venture to a debate that everyone has an opinion on: should you withdraw from your retir by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

41 min listen

522: How to Get PAID to Live in an Affordable City & Fast-Track Financial Freedom by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

40 min listen

521: Full-Time FIRE and Traveling the World…All Thanks to Rentals!: Could real estate investing help you reach financial freedom much sooner than you thought possible? Today’s guest had his world turned upside down by one tragic incident, but he was able to quit his W2 job, pivot to real estate, and fast-track his journey to FIRE! Today, we’re chatting with technology instructor turned full-time real estate investor Keith Nugent. After a skydiving accident rendered him unable to perform his previous job duties, Keith knew he needed a new path to financial independence. Fortunately, he discovered real estate at the perfect time. Taking advantage of the fallout from the 2008 housing market crash, Keith started loading up on rental properties—often buying them for pennies on the dollar. In just twelve years, he had not only achieved his goal of thirty cash-flowing units by 2020 but also added an additionalten units to his portfolio! Thanks to real estate, Keith now has a career that ful by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

44 min listen

520: The BEST Side Hustles You Can Start in 2024 (Outside of Real Estate!): The best side hustles can put some extra cash in your pocket, help you leave your W2 job, or even launch you toward FIRE. If you’re looking to make money in ways other than real estate investing, you don’t want to miss this side hustle special! Nick Loper, founder of Side Hustle Nation and host of The Side Hustle Show, has been building businesses since he was a teenager. From lucrative digital assets to service-based ventures, Nick has done it all, and today, he’s bringing some fresh ideas for you to try. As you’re about to learn, these fledgling businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Some take years to nurture before you reap any reward for effort, while others allow you to start earning immediately. In any case, you need to choose one you’re interested in and stick with it if you want to see results! In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Nick dives into some of his favorite side hustles—man by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

48 min listen

519: HSA vs. FSA and When to Drain Your Emergency Fund to Pay Off Deb by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

39 min listen

518; Shrinkflation: How to Outsmart The Grocery Stores’ Rising Prices: Whether you know it or not, “shrinkflation” is costing you. You’re paying more for less, as manufacturers boast record profits. Your paycheck is getting eaten away faster and faster every month, but you’re left with the same amount of stuff. How did this happen, and when is it going to stop? Phil Lempert, AKA the “SupermarketGuru,” has been analyzing consumer behavior, marketing trends, and the retail landscape for over two decades. Now, he’s sharing thetricks manufacturers use to get you to spend more while expecting less. Shrinkflation has become such a severe problem that even the president of the United States has recently mentioned its damaging effects on the American household. Phil gives us the inside scoop on why prices are rising while sizes shrink, how retailers are actually fighting back to get customers the savings they deserve, and which products are seeing the most shrinkflation today. Phil also shar by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

47 min listen

517: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy a Business: Buying a business? Maybe you’ve thought about it before. You could own a laundromat, self-storage facility, plumbing business, or landscaping service. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but these types of businesses can make you millions of dollars and lead you to financial freedom. And, with so many baby boomers retiring, tons of small businesses with built-in customer bases are for sale, just waiting for YOU to come and make money from them. But before you buy, there are some things you should know. Elliott Holland, an expert in acquiring small and medium-sized businesses, helps aspiring business buyers uncover whether a business is worth the price. Elliot’s team specializes in business due diligence, making sure that YOU don’t buy a business that’s worth less than what the owner/broker told you it was. Trust him; he’s saved many new entrepreneurs from making million-dollar mistakes. So, before you buy a business, listen to this by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

48 min listen

516: Jaspreet Singh: Getting Rich Slowly and Why Some People STAY Broke: Want to know how to get rich but fear it could be too late? Perhaps you’ve got responsibilities, bills to pay, and a family to feed. How can you possibly get ahead? Jaspreet Singh’s message is clear: you can still build wealth, but you’re going to have to be intentional with your money, just like every other rich person. There are no shortcuts! Today, Jaspreet is a serial entrepreneur, real estate investor, licensed attorney, and host of The Minority Mindset Show. But growing up, his parents wanted him to become a doctor. Despite the immense pressure to fulfill their wishes, Jaspreet found himself gravitating toward entrepreneurship. He started several businesses throughout adolescence and young adulthood—from playing drums at weddings and planning college parties to building ecommerce stores. He lost a TON of money along the way, but taking these risks early on paid off. Eventually, he discovered his true passi by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

45 min listen

515: How I Paid Off $150K in Debt and the 5 Factors That Boost Your Credit Score: Want to know how to get out of debt for good? It’s not as easy as it sounds! The more you chip away at that number, the harder it becomes to resist frivolous spending. But by fostering a healthy money mindset, building credit, and using credit cards the right way, you can stay out of the red! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Ashley is a business owner and rental property investor who is well on her way to financial independence. But only a few years ago, she had racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt on not one, not two, but THREE occasions. In this episode, she shares why she struggled to break free from the snare of consumer debt and why a drastic mindset shift was needed to climb out of a $150,000 hole. Ashley also takes a deep dive into credit history and touches on each of the five factors that impact your credit score. Along the way, she offers several personal finance tips by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

46 min listen

514: How to “Travel Hack” Like a Pro and Get FREE Flights, Hotel Stays, and More! by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

48 min listen

513: The “Red Flags” of Investment Fraud from a Former $3.8M Ponzi Scheme Manager by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

55 min listen

512: Unemployment Inches Up, Inflation Returns, & Serious News for Student Loans: Has the job market finally flipped? Throughout most of the pandemic, it seemed that any and every worker was a hot commodity. Job-hopping was the new norm as businesses outbid each other to get the best talent. Now, thanks to rising interest rates, a slower economy, and a return to the office, it seems that employees don’t have the same negotiating power they did just a couple of years ago, and the new jobs numbers are showing this. Welcome to a new type of format on the BiggerPockets Money podcast—a headlines show! We’re taking some of the top news stories from the world of personal finance and the overall economy and giving you our takes so you can make better money decisions. First, a strong jobs report comes in, but unemployment still rises as Americans find it harder and harder to get the job they want. Are employers back in control after years of workers owning the market? Then, we’ll touch on the by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

34 min listen

511: Pay Your Rent and Level Up Your Home with THIS Creative Side Hustle: Could one side hustle help you pay rent, save money to invest in real estate, or reach financial independence? Today’s guest picked up the perfect hobby that combines his background in art and love for home décor. The best part? It allows him to make extra money each month! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Because Kyle William earns a modest salary in an expensive city, there’s no room for new furniture and décor in his budget. However, he has found a way to not only fully furnish his apartment without paying top dollar but also turn this passion into a profitable side hustle. In his spare time, he scours the web for items that people no longer value, uses his artistic eye and do-it-yourself (DIY) skills to restore them to peak condition, and then flips them online for a hefty profit! Could you turn your own passion into a money-making side hustle, too? Whether you’re interested in flipping furn by BiggerPockets Money Podcast

41 min listen

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539: Finance Friday: Can I Comfortably Retire by 50 with My Current Portfolio?

539: Finance Friday: Can I Comfortably Retire by 50 with My Current Portfolio?

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