BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Many listeners of the BiggerPockets Podcast network are resourceful when saving and earning money, but maybe not quite as resourceful as Cort Johnson. Not only does he have a full-time engineering job, which he uses to support his family, he also has 5 other streams of income on the side! From contract welding projects, to dropshipping, renting out his trailer, and even raising rabbits (seriously!), Cort has done almost everything under the sun to build up his assets. The main problem: some income streams are taking up too much time, while providing too little in return. This is a constant problem that entrepreneurs and FIRE members face, too many options! Mindy and Scott go through Cort Johnson's income, budget, expenses, and general finances to see where he should allocate his time for maximum return. This episode goes deep on the importance of scalable income and following your passions to develop side income streams that you enjoy. Cort dreams big about starting his own business, investing in multifamily property, and living financially free. As you’ll hear in this episode, he’s not far off! In This Episode We Cover How to focus on side income streams that are worth the time Budgeting and expense tracking so you spend less Calculating the value of your time (so you don’t waste it) Why you should “do what you know” if you’re going to start your own business Turning a large single family property into a multi family for house hacking Why dropshipping is such a great side hustle for busy people And SO Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Finance Review Guest Onboarding Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow160 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you get married and find out your partner has debt? A lot of debt...That’s a question many young couples have, shortly after finding out their significant other’s full financial picture. While it may seem scary at first, working together to solve financial problems and gravitating towards financial freedom can bring you closer together. That’s exactly what happened to Talaat and Tai McNeely from His and Her Money. Both were raised in frugal houses, but like many frugally-raised people, they split in financial directions. Tai was busy putting herself through college, debt free! On the other hand, Talaat went into the military and started spending his pay on consumer goods. The cars, the clothes, and everything in between. Tai later learned that Talaat had around $30,000 in consumer debt! So what did she do, walk away from him? Of course not! She worked with Talaat and put together a plan where they both could work hard to get out of debt. Shortly after, Talaat was debt free, so what did they do next? They bought their house, and came up with a plan to completely pay it off in 5 years (Yes, 5). Now Talaat and Tai run His and Her Money, helping other couples work together to reach their financial goals. Talaat and Tai have 7 key tips to staying happy and secure in a marriage where the finances are shared, and how to stray away from the “2-Income Trap”. In This Episode We Cover Why you should go over finances before getting married The importance of inspiring your partner to have the right finance mentality The importance of introspection when dealing with a partner’s money situations How to stray away from the “2-Income Trap” Whether or not you should combine finances in a marriage The pros/cons of paying off your home quickly The 7 key tips to creating a financially harmonious relationship And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 73 with Ramit BiggerPockets Money Podcast 127 with Ramit Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow159 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! With the first 2021 episode of Finance Fridays, we take a look at Wayne Loux’s investments, income streams, and overall finances. Wayne is like many of our listeners: working a W2 job, but also supporting himself and his family by having 1099 income from being a real estate agent. On top of that, Wayne has over 10 rental units, spread throughout different multifamily properties. He also has solid retirement savings and cash on hand. With all this income, Wayne wanted answers on whether or not he should lessen his time at his W2 job, take more cash out from equity in the multifamily properties he owns, and other common real estate investment questions. Scott and Mindy go through different strategies that can help Wayne grow his portfolio. From 1031 exchanges, to setting up self-directed IRAs, and cash-out refinancing to build an out of state portfolio. These are questions we hear from many investors on the BiggerPockets forums, so stay tuned because Scott and Mindy just might answer a question you’ve had! In This Episode We Cover How to value your time as a high-earning professional Putting family over work, even if it means stepping away from an income stream Which investments should you put money into when all your bills are being paid? SEP IRAs and Self-Directed IRAs Using 1031 exchanges to lower your tax burden when investing Finding jobs that can scale your income (and leaving those that don’t) Whether you’re over or under leveraging your current portfolio How to speak to your partner about big financial steps And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Calculator Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow158 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling all couples! You and your partner may be on the same page financially, or off in two different directions, regardless of where you’re at, it’s a great time to start having money dates! In this episode, Mindy and Scott are going solo, talking through why money dates are such a crucial part of any healthy relationship. This isn’t just talk, both Mindy and Scott are adamant about money dates, they do them often with their partners as well! If you’re an individual listening to this episode, you may feel a bit intimidated by the concept of a money date. Do you just sit down and talk about index funds and taxes for an hour? No! A money date can be a perfect time to be alone as a couple, talk about the future, make some positive changes, and hold each other accountable for being the best version of yourselves. If you have a partner who may be a bit averse to the concept of a money date, have no fear, Mindy and Scott have perfected their plan for setting up a successful money date, and how to make it enjoyable when you’re in it. With the new year coming up very soon, this is the perfect time to plan a money date with your special someone, you won’t regret it! In This Episode We Cover What is a “money date” What to do before you suggest a money date to your partner How to make the money date successful and what topics to bring up Following up on your money date and setting up systems for success The importance of keeping your ideas simple in a money date How to present the idea to a partner who may not be too keen on finances Why money dates help create healthier, happier relationships And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Wheel of Life Worksheet Money Date Template Finance Review Guest Onboarding Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow157 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most real estate investors get into real estate to get rich quick. If you’re looking to make a million dollars within your first year of real estate, this is the wrong podcast! But, if you’re looking to build a sustainable portfolio of cash flowing rentals while reaching financial independence in a very lucrative position, this is the episode for you! Richard Carey, AKA the “Conservative Money Cool Kid'' started out in the military, not knowing that real estate was the place where he would create his wealth. He started with a duplex and slowly began building his real estate empire, even while overseas. He even took a 10 year break from real estate, and was still able to grow his position to an impressive level! Real estate wasn’t the only way that Richard was investing. He was maxing out his IRAs and employee retirement accounts, investing in index funds and watching them grow more and more as he upped his contributions. Richard is a fantastic example of why you want to start investing as early as possible. While most real estate investors champion loans and leveraging as much as possible, Richard thinks differently. He finds a position of strength by not overleveraging, owning rentals outright, and having a solid safety net to depend on. Richard now sits in a great position, early in life, with a lot ahead of him! In This Episode We Cover The importance of maxing out your retirement accounts when you’re young How to not only pay off your rental properties, but primary home sooner Why there is an advantage to not having too much leverage on your investments How to test out a property manager when long-distance investing Why you should set goals to be in a financial position of strength Why you don’t need to be in a rush to invest right now And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Podcast 268 with Rich Carey Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow156 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert from Stop Ironing Shirts has had quite a lucrative career path. Starting out as a bank teller in college, he learnt that he really enjoyed math that had dollar signs attached to the numbers. From there, he launched his career forward, first as a commercial banker, and later becoming a well-paid top executive. While he had a great job and a partner who was also bringing in a solid paycheck every month, he slowly started to get tired of the corporate bureaucracy, politics, location dependency, and long hours. Robert has made some mistakes on his path to early retirement. He lost money on a few real` estate deals and he even bought a brand new car (gasp!). None of this stopped him from still living below his means, siphoning off a large portion of his income for investments, and capitalizing on special programs such as the 409a plan. Robert now lives life on his schedule. Whether that be spending copious amounts of time shopping at Costco or surfing at the beach, Robert has a life where he decides what he wants to do, everyday. Thankfully, it didn’t take him 30+ years of working to get there! In This Episode We Cover The importance of choosing a highly lucrative skill set How to fight lifestyle creep, even when you’re making serious money The real cost of a daily commute How he recovered from real estate losses in 2009 (and after) The psychological difficulties many face when retiring early What a 409a plan is (and how high-earners can take advantage of it) How much cash should be in reserves for financial independence And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 153 with Bill Bengen BiggerPockets Money Podcast 120 with Michael Kitces BiggerPockets Money Podcast 136 with Doug Nordman Mr. Money Mustache The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow155 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever had a card declined when trying to buy the basics? That was the start of Allison Baggerly’s journey into budgeting and saving. As a big spender in college, Allison didn’t see a real reason to save instead of spend. She would take herself on frequent trips to the mall to treat herself when she aced a test, or make herself feel better if she flunked one. It wasn’t until her first son was born that her and her husband realized they wouldn’t have enough in the budget to pay for childcare costs, and thus, the Inspired Budget was born! After a few years of limited spending and frequent budget analyzing, Allison and her Husband paid off over $110,000+ in debt and are now on their way to financial abundance. Allison talks about the importance of giving yourself spending, investing, and saving allowances and how you don’t need to sacrifice everything to become financially safe! In This Episode We Cover The importance of setting budgets early on in life (and keeping up with them) Changing the “how much do I have to spend” mindset into a “how much do I have to save” way of thinking Why you need to own your relationship with money How to have financial talks with your partner (even when it’s awkward) Why you need spending allowances so you can enjoy your money Why investing isn’t a linear path, but a rollercoaster (and why the dips don’t define you!) Refusing the mental trap of “I can’t be rich” while being at a low-income job And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow154 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He really is the man who needs no introduction (but here’s one anyways). Bill Bengen, the inventor of the 4% rule (and personal finance hero of Mindy & Scott) stops by the Money Podcast to talk about how he calculated his famed 4%, how he managed his client’s portfolios, and how the 4% has aged throughout the past three decades. In his Original Article from the Journal Of Financial Planning, October 1994, Bengen outlined a groundbreaking calculation: a 4% withdrawal rate from your retirement accounts is all you need to comfortably retire (if enough is saved up). Bengen was hit with praise and criticism, but is still applauded to this day for having such a simple yet crucial metric for knowing how & when you can retire. Using over 200+ retirement account portfolios spanning decades of time as research, Bengen still says with confidence, the 4% rule is a winner! He has the proof and we couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re a few years or a few decades away from retirement, this episode features life-changing advice from one of the leaders in financial research. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! In This Episode We Cover What the 4% rule is How Bengen came up with the 4% rule and why it stands the test of time How inflation becomes the “thief in the night” for many investors The best (and worst) times to invest How to stay the course during financial downturn Which asset classes boost great returns and withdrawal rates Steering clear of “1 more year syndrome” The importance of rebalancing your portfolio How to not accumulate too much wealth for retirement Why everyone needs to learn how to be a saver, so they can enjoy life! And So Much More! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To say that Kathy from Baby Boomer Super Saver had a difficult journey ahead of her is an understatement. She was $70,000 in credit card debt, with a big mortgage, and a spouse that had a medical emergency. So how did she make her way to the millionaire retirement level? Through financial management communities like the FIRE movement, she was able to correct her spending faults, earn more, and invest most of her income into retirement accounts. Kathy put in the work to change her mindset about money as a whole, and reach for abundance instead of just survival. Now, Kathy teaches others how they can reach their retirement goals (even if they’re behind where they want to be) on her Baby Boomer Super Saver blog. Whether you’re just starting your career, or are a few years away from retirement, Kathy has some incredible tips on money management, maxing out retirement contributions, and being intentional with your money and your journey. In This Episode We Cover How to reach your retirement goals even if you start later in life Snowballing your debt so you can save more Changing your financial mindset to get where you need to be The 2 key ways to get your retirement savings up How catchup contribution accounts like the 457b plan can accelerate your investing Being intentional with your money while lining up your saving/investing with your values The importance of educating yourself and not relying entirely on others for financial advice And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Dave Ramsey BiggerPockets Money Podcast 18 with Mad Fientist Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow152 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may know Tony J Robinson as the co-host of the Real Estate Rookie podcast, but you probably don’t know his backstory. As a single dad working his way through college and student debt, Tony knew that he needed to have a plan in place to pursue his goals and find financial freedom. He also knew he didn’t want to repeat the same real estate mistakes as his parents. He went from an engineering student, to owning a small tutoring business, to marketing, and finally landed a sweet gig at Tesla! After paying off debt, creating a healthy reserve fund, and divvying his money into over 20 different checking accounts (yes, 20+), he was able to reap the rewards of smart financial management and chase down freedom through real estate. If you’re trying to consolidate debt, find ways to make more money at a job, or leverage creative funding to finance your next deal, Tony has a solution to your problem. In This Episode We Cover How job jumping can accelerate your raises and income growth Why EVERY investor (and person in general) needs a healthy cash reserve The importance of talking to your children about finance Why being good at math doesn’t mean you’re great at financial management How paying off debt can drive investment funding How to fight lifestyle/income creep so you can live below your means The strategy to leverage your stock portfolio for real estate funding Creating the “why” behind financial decisions And so much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Dave Ramsey's Envelope System Explained BiggerPockets Money Podcast 149 with Nick Groover BiggerPockets Money Podcast 112 with Natalie Kolodij Rookie Podcast 10 with Tony Robinson Rookie Podcast 37 with Tony Robinson Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow151 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cristina Livadary immigrated to the US when she was 6, and less than a year later, her father left, leaving her stranded with her mother and sister. She didn't speak the language, had no money, and lived in hotels until her mother was able to find steady work as a chef. She grew up without much in the way of financial education, but did secure a water polo scholarship to Bucknell. Until a rotator cuff injury lost her the funding at the beginning of her third year. She left college with $100,000 in student loans and a burning desire to find a high paying job to live out her Carrie Bradshaw dreams of living in NYC. She spent two years in New York, working hard and spending harder. She moved to LA to run a division covering California and Hawaii, and decided she needed to make a big change. Cristina stopped spending lavishly on things that didn't matter, started focusing on what made her happy, and now helps others manage their finances to get money out of the way and live their best lives. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55 with Kristy and Bryce BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55.5 with Kristy and Bryce Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow150 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Groover is 25, with a young daughter and a fiance, looking to make changes to his finances so he can start married life off on the right foot. He has some debts he'd like to knock out so he can start investing in real estate, and potentially start a business. He just got a promotion and a raise, and on paper is doing pretty good. But Nick needs to start budgeting, because a dollar here and five dollars there is eating up his overage, so there is very little to save. In today's episode, Scott and Mindy sit down with Nick to go over his current financial situation and use their life experiences to suggest easy wins to help pay down his debt, start saving for future real estate purchases, and start investing for retirement. Nick's in a good place right now, but following Scott & Mindy's suggestions should help him get money out of the way so he can go on to lead his best life! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Dave Ramsey Mobile Expense Tracking App - Waffles On Wednesday Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow149 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Hogan joins Scott and Mindy today to chat about becoming an everyday millionaire. Chris and his team interviewed more than 10,000 millionaires to hear how they did it. Hard work, determination, spending less than you make, investing wisely, and eliminating debt. Chris shares how to discuss your finances with your spouse - and how to bring them on board when you have differing views about money. He talks about the emotional journey that debt paydown can take you on - and how to handle that so you come out on top! Chris also reveals his feelings about FIRE - and how there is too much focus on the RE and not enough on the FI. He wants you to become Financially Independent but also wants you to enjoy your journey. Chris firmly believes that anyone can become debt free and start to build wealth to become an Everyday Millionaire. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps BiggerPockets Money Podcast 50 with Patrice Washington The Retire Inspired Quotient Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow148 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cathleen Hutchins grew up in Hawaii. She come over to the mainland for college, but Hawaii kept calling her name, so she moved back home. Hawaii is an expensive place to live, and Cathleen knew she'd need a plan in order to reach financial independence if she was going to live there for the rest of her life. So she saved. She invested. She made smart decisions about her money and is continuously looking for ways to generate passive income to help fund her retirement. She has also sacrificed some comforts and norms to get to where she is today. She and her husband lived apart for a while, both living where there was a job for each of them, not always in the same state! But her sacrificing and saving has allowed her to move home to Hawaii, buy a house, and continue to pursue financial independence in a high cost of living area. Cathleen is well on her way to Financial Independence and her story is just another example of how following the proven path, you can get money out of the way so you can lead your best life. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 35 with Craig Curelop BiggerPockets Money Podcast 95 with Craig Curelop BiggerPockets Money Podcast 120 with Michael Kitces BiggerPockets Money Podcast 144 with Kirk Chisholm Mr. Money Mustache Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow147 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ambus Hunter grew up with a fair understanding of how money works. He received a partial scholarship to play drums in college, and graduated with a small amount of student loan debt. His first job was with the Department of Defense, making a decent salary for someone who had just graduated from college. He started saving his money, like a good FI-devotee does, but his story takes a sharp left turn. Ambus discovered gambling. At first, he was winning. (That's how it goes with gambling, right?) But then his "luck" changed. Because that's also how it goes with gambling, right? Ambus chased his losses, and ended up wiping out his entire savings account. That was when he knew he had to stop cold turkey. He then threw everything he had into building his savings back up, taking on extra jobs, living with roommates, and cutting out everything unnecessary in his life. In one short year, working nights and weekends, spending as little as possible, and throwing every dollar into his savings, he made it all back. Now Ambus helps guide others on their own path to financial literacy through volunteering and through his own coaching programs. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 10 with Liz Thames BiggerPockets Money Podcast 143 with Shannon Gauthier How Gambling Away My Savings Strengthened My Relationship With Money Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow146 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea Brennan was a hedge fund manager for several years - until her second pregnancy when she ended up in the hospital with sever complications brought on by the stress and emotional toll her job took on her. She and her husband looked over their savings and investments, and decided that she'd leave her job in order to focus on her health and her kids. Her baby was born healthy, but their income went from six figures to zero figures, and she needed a way to bring some money in. She looked back on her love of teaching, and decided to start a website devoted to teaching women - and moms specifically - how to handle their money. Chelsea is truly passionate about teaching the power of financial independence and being in control of your life. Are you struggling with your finances? This episode is a cannot miss! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 133 with Doc G Free Money Mamas Guide to Investing Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow145 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kirk Chisholm is a fee-only investment advisor with a secret passion - finding new and different ways to invest money. Kirk shares his Big List of 75 Alternative Investments with us today - and more importantly, how to vet the investment vehicle to see if it's right for you. Not everything is a great fit for every person, and you certainly don't have to choose everything on the list. Play to your strengths when choosing investments and don't discount passion for an idea. If you HATE the thought of learning more about that investment vehicle, you won't put forth the correct amount of effort necessary to master it. Kirk also dives into how to sell these types of alternative investments - including at significant discounts if it's an illiquid asset that you need to liquidate fast. Secondary markets exist for all asset classes, and there are ways to pick up a good deal on the secondary market as well. If you're looking to diversify your portfolio, today's show is a can't-miss episode! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Against the Rules with Michael Lewis Podcast The Big list of 75 Alternative Investments Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow144 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shannon Gauthier discovered the debt she and her husband had gotten themselves into when a debt collector caller her at work and she started asking questions. Shocked to discover $30,000 in unpaid debts, she quickly found herself a single mom as her husband left. She tried to pay them off as best she could, but found herself somedays deciding whether to buy a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas to get to work. Fast forward a year, and she met a new man who brought significant debt with him to the relationship - to the tune of $60,000! Each of their divorces added more debt to their pile and at the height their debt totaled $160,000. Their income trailed this debt at $65,000 and they knew they'd have to do everything in their power to knock out this debt. They moved in with his parents to pay lower rent and have someone to watch the kids while they worked. They couponed and did free things with the kids to be able to throw every single dollar they could at their debt. This approach paid off, because by the end of the year, they will be completely debt free and be able to start saving and investing and working toward financial freedom. If you're in debt and see no way out, this episode will show you there IS a way to paying down your debt, that it isn't always easy, pretty or fun, but it CAN be done. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Dave Ramsey Pinterest BiggerPockets Money Podcast 130 Mindy's email Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow143 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott & Mindy sit down today to answer questions sent in by listeners. They address topics all over the board - from student loan repayment and early retirement account withdrawal under the CARES act, to the best high-yield savings accounts, and planning for the gap between early retirement and traditional retirement age when you can access your retirement accounts penalty free. Scott & Mindy also discuss different investing platforms as well as retirement planning, taxes, and even how inflation might affect your retirement future. They take a couple of calls from listeners to chat about the best current use of retirement funds. This episode will help clear up some of the questions you may be having on your road to early financial independence. Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums Robinhood Facing Multiple SEC Investigations Into Its Business Practices How to Access Retirement Funds Early What Is a Self-Directed Brokerage Account? BiggerPockets Money Podcast 119 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 116 with JL Collins Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow142 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blake Nielson is a college professor whose wife stays home to raise their four children. Despite having only one income - and six mouths to feed - they have paid off their home and are on the path to early financial freedom. Blake currently loves his job and has no plans to stop working - but still wants the freedom that financial independence gives. So how did he do it? He started off debt free from college, a HUGE leg up in life in general. Blake details just how he accomplished this feat, from college selection to funds available, scholarships and even working during the school year and especially during the summers between. Blake even shares a Solid Gold tip for finding out about scholarships that aren’t well publicized! Blake also strategically chose where he lived during his college years. He specifically chose a rental that was priced significantly lower than the “college” rentals in town - but still close enough to walk to school. There is no secret to Blake’s success. He put in the work at an early age and is on track to hit lean FI by age 40 and Fat FI by 45. Spend less than you earn, invest wisely. Blake shows you can live the FI life with four kids and one income. In This Episode We Cover: Blake's money story Simple principles of frugality 4 keys that any person can go to college debt free Talking about school selection How he budget his money House hacking Talking about scholarships His experience after getting a PhD Blake's job The problem that most people have with negotiation And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 80 with Rich & Regular BiggerPockets Money Podcast 32 with Mr. & Mrs. PoP BiggerPockets Money Podcast 64 with Zach Gautier Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow141 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Belinda Rosenblum is a CPA, a certified coach and her clients include Harvard Business School, Harvard University and the SEC. She’s worked for Arthur Andersen and L3 Enterprises. She’s got money all figured out, right? Well, she does now… On today’s episode, Belinda shares her biggest money mistake - ignoring a giant pile of mail as she cared for her recovering father. Once she cleared that up, she focused on her own finances, growing her net worth to more than $1 million by the time she was 33. She quickly realized that her trajectory was NOT taking her where she wanted to go. So she pivoted. She took a new job with a huge bump in pay and rode out their boom and subsequent layoffs, taking a package to leave and using that opportunity to travel to India, a life-changing experience. When she came back, she realized she didn’t need all the things, didn’t need the stress that came with the big corporate job, and struck out on her own, filling a need she saw in her own friends - financial education. Belinda parlayed her financial knowledge into a multi 6-figures company, pivoting again last year to helping businesses strategically and consistently generate income. This episode is for anyone who has made a money mistake, anyone who has gotten past one, or anyone looking to start their own business to truly live the life they want. In This Episode We Cover: Belinda's journey with money How she worked out with her money management Emotional side of money What she did after she was laid off Her experience during her financial advising jobs Biggest challenges for entrepreneurs Talking about her business How she grow her business Unconscious spending How her clients think about taking the leap away from a job into entrepreneurship How to start a business And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums 5 Simple Ways to Create Consistent Revenue Money-Making Tracking Sheets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life Insurance is the most exciting topic on the planet! Just kidding. But just because it isn’t a super exciting topic doesn’t mean you don’t need to know about it. Today, Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast, joins Scott and Mindy to talk about Life Insurance. Joe comes from a background as a financial planner and was licensed to sell every type of insurance product available. Joe is here today because he understands how life insurance works - how it's priced, how you can use it, the pros and cons of the product - but he has no skin in the game whether you buy life insurance or not. He's the perfect person to explain this product from a factual standpoint and let you make the decision of what type - if any - is best for you, based on facts, not commissions. Joe walks us through the basics and shares how life insurance actually covers you - from term, to whole, to universal life. There's no bad product, only different ways of paying out. If you're struggling with how to figure out what life insurance policy is right for you, this episode can't be missed. In This Episode We Cover: How life insurance works How to incorporate life insurance into financial planning What bucket of insurance should people be thinking about How does life insurance gets price Whole life insurance versus term life insurance Universal life insurance What decreasing term policy and level term policy are Things that affect insurability Tax triangle Is life insurance payout taxed What age should you get life insurance What makes good life insurance policy Common reasons for being denied in life insurance And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 40 XY Planning Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Farnoosh Torabi grew up talking about money. Her parents are from the Middle East, and in her culture, they “never miss a moment to talk about money.” As the go-to girl for finance advice among her friends, imagine her surprise when she sat down and looked at her financial situation to discover tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt! Farnoosh realized that paying for everything with a card, then paying the minimum balances didn’t lead to debt free life. Not wanting to continue a life of debt - mainly so she wouldn’t have to tell her mom - she hustled during school. Taking class notes and selling them on her school’s notes system, babysitting, bird sitting, anything that would generate income so she could throw money at her debt and pay it off. Graduation took her to New York City and a stroke of luck found her a shared apartment with a married couple for $500 a month. Definitely less than she could find on her own. She started off making very little, and strategically increased her income to offset the fact that she “isn’t a good saver.” Farnoosh has parlayed her own financial knowledge into a career teaching others how to manage their own finances. From books, to podcasts, to television, Farnoosh is everywhere, educating this oh-so-important skill so that others can work toward their own financial freedom. In This Episode We Cover: Farnoosh's journey with money Where she learned about money Talking about her money behaviour How she got rid of her debt Her approach on accumulating her assets How real estate helped her Her advice on people who are in a relationship The leading cause of a divorce The right time for people who are just starting to date to talk about money What her asset allocation looks like And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group FinCon NextAdvisor with TIME | Smart Money Moves BiggerPockets Money Podcast 119 BiggerPockets Forums Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Felicity’s story to financial independence is going to be similar to listeners of The BiggerPockets Money Podcast. She got a good paying job, spent less than she earned, intelligently invested in Index Funds and is now financially independent at the age of 30. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. Except, it’s NOT that easy, actually. She lives in America, and for much of that time, she lived in a very high cost of living city, Boston. Felicity rented a 250 sq ft apartment with her husband, Fergus, while he was in graduate school - because he didn’t want to live above his means, and he was making less money than she was at the time. In fact, Fergus is leery of the 4% rule, and would be much more comfortable if they were only pulling 2%-2.5% of their retirement funds every year. Their story illustrates the point Mindy makes so frequently in this podcast, “personal finance is personal.” Their story also illustrates the path one must take to get to financial independence. Spend less than you earn. Intelligently invest. Stay the course through the tough times. This too shall pass. In This Episode We Cover: Felicity's journey with money Talking about her unconscious spending and fixed expenses What she did with her money prior to discovering financial independence The moment she started his financial independence journey How she got obsessed with personal finance Conversation about money with her husband Her approach on her money Talking about happiness Where she planted her money And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group The Power of Financial Freedom - Fetching Financial Freedom 5 Ways Losing 50 Pounds and Saving $1M Was Exactly the Same Donating a Year’s Salary to Our Donor-Advised Fund Mint Mr. Money Mustache BiggerPockets Money Podcast 120 with Michael Kitces Millennial Revolution Mindy's email Scott's email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Nordman wanted to teach his daughter about money. But he knew that to get it right, he’d have to start when she was very very small. So he did. First, he taught her how to count, then he taught her how to add, then he showed her what she could do with money by using cash in transactions. As Carol got older, she was able to handle the cash herself, learning how to make change, count change, etc. Carol started “earning” her own money, through allowance and jobs - which could only be done after her (non-paid) chores were complete. Doug’s common-sense approach to teaching his daughter about money is actually quite brilliant. She starts learning about money - and making money mistakes - when the stakes are low. Your 8-year-old making a $20 mistake is far better than your 20 year old making a $10,000 mistake because he or she never learned how to manage money. Carol joins her dad to talk about how these teachings affected her life - and how she is planning on teaching her own daughter about money and finances. Carol and Doug have combined their recollections of this time together and written a book called Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence, and it is the blueprint for exactly how to raise children who are ‘good with money’ and how to prepare them to be adults who are great with money. If you’re struggling with how to teach your children about money, this is a must-listen episode. In This Episode We Cover: Doug's journey with money How he learned to be smart about money How he budgeted money on raising a child What does high savings rate means to him Carol's outlook about finance Carol's financial story Overview of Carol's financial position Lean FI Talking about Carol's husband and his view about money Doug's advice on how to approach your kids when you are just starting out on this journey Where they planted their money And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group CNBC ChooseFI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Williams invests in real estate in a way you may have never heard of before. He buys and sells land. And no, he’s not a developer. He literally buys a piece of blank dirt, and then sells it—frequently within days of buying it—for fairly high margins. And he does this without taking out loans for the purchase. How? He’s paying hundreds of dollars for this land, as opposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a piece of land with a house on top of it. He turns around and sells it quickly, frequently realizing a 300% profit—or more! Even better? Deals are EVERYWHERE! Land is literally everywhere, and deals can be found very easily. (We discuss several ways to find absentee vacant landowners, many of whom just want to be rid of the property!) Seth shares what to look out for in a deal so you minimize your chances of getting burned and what makes a deal great. He shares different ways to find these deals and even gives guidance for doing your homework so you know exactly what you’re buying. If you’d like to get started in real estate but may not have the funds or simply don’t have the time or desire to run a flip, land may be your way in. In This Episode We Cover: Seth's money journey His first land deal The reason why people buy land How to get into your first deal buying land What you should know about title insurance Dealing with mistakes All about title searches Tax implications of buying land The best and worst type of land for those just starting out And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Dave Ramsey's Envelope System The title search article/video Land Flipping Lifecycle How to Juggle Your Real Estate Business with a Full-Time Job Six Months After Quitting My Job, Here Are My Honest Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Browning had dreams of creating movies for Pixar - until he started art classes in college and realized that wasn’t his calling. He was also taking a personal finance class and thoroughly enjoyed it, so he changed his major to finance and never looked back. Chris should have perfect finances, right? Well… Chris found himself in debt after graduating in 2009 and working as a bank teller, trying to impress his girlfriend (now wife). He took control of his finances, telling his girlfriend that they needed to reign in their spending so he could pay off debt. But once his debt was gone, he started saving in earnest for an engagement ring, spent everything he had on that, and found himself in debt again when they started planning their wedding. Life happened, debt continued to stack up until they realized they were $27,000 in debt, with salaries just over that amount - all while living in Southern California. Living paycheck-to-paycheck makes it hard to throw extra money at your debt. Chris and his wife reviewed their spending and were shocked by what they were spending on. Once they knew where their money was going, they were able to drastically reduce their spending and throw more money at their debt. It turns out, tracking your spending and sticking to a budget are both excellent pieces of advice that can help anyone turn their financial situation around and start down the path toward financial independence. In This Episode We Cover: His journey with money How much debt he has on his wedding What he did on paying off his debt Changes he make while paying off his debt How he approached his wife on making changes about their budget Talking about his emergency fund Dave Ramsey's baby steps How he plan his retirement Steps towards saving for early retirement When did he discover Financial Independence His vision for retirement How to use credit card responsibly His tips on travel hacking And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Mint: Budget Tracker & Planner BiggerPockets Money Podcast 75 with Justin from Saving Sherpa BiggerPockets Money Podcast 39 with Jamila Souffrant BiggerPockets Money Podcast 15 with Brad and Jonathan from ChooseFI Dave Ramsey's Envelope System Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doc G wanted to be a doctor since he was eight years old. He went to medical school, started his career and quickly realized he actually didn’t like all the parts about being a doc - and didn’t know how to leave the profession. Something he’d wanted for 20 years suddenly wasn’t so awesome anymore. Cue The White Coat Investor. He’d written a book and asked Doc G to read it and review it for his medical blog - and suddenly Doc G saw a way out! This way out didn’t have the expected results, however. Instead of jubilation, Doc G was thrown into a spiral of anxiety and depression. Something he’d wanted his whole life, this thing he’d identified with so strongly for so long, and the thought of walking away from such an enormous part of his life was terrifying because now he had a way to do it and it was suddenly real. Having always saved at least 50% of his income, Doc G went to his accountant - who was unfamiliar with early retirement and sort of threw out a number he needed to save to retire. His financial advisor was a bit more helpful, asking questions like, "how much do you spend in a year?" Not knowing, Doc G threw out a number, which turned out to be really close to what his accountant said he needed. But he was still unsure. So he did what anyone in the FIRE community would do - he started reading. Everything and anything he could get his hands on. He realized he had enough money to stop doing those things he didn’t like, so he started practicing what he calls "The Art of Subtraction." He removed the things that did not make his heart sing, so that he could focus on those things he DID enjoy. And his plan worked. He now can spend his working hours doing the things he loves to do, and does not have to do the things he doesn’t. He has focused more time on non-doctor side projects like writing and podcasting - where his enjoyment runs sky high even though the paychecks do not. As his side projects bring more joy, walking away from the physician thing gets easier and easier. Making plans for retirement is great, but today Doc G shares how to plan your transition into retirement which can be even more important! In This Episode We Cover: Doc G's specialty as a doctor His journey into the medical field How his life changed from being a doctor to investor How his money journey began The art of subtraction Stepping away from being a physician and leaving a large paycheck behind Questioning what truly makes you happy Doc G's portfolio His rental property business And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Podcast 99 with Scott, Whitney Hansen, and Doc G BiggerPockets Money Podcast 6 with Sarah Wilson BiggerPockets Money Podcast 11 with Joel What is Hedonic Adaptation and How Can it Turn You Into a Sucka? Hacking Hedonic Adaptation to Get Way More For Your Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marquez Griffin graduated from high school but did not feel that college was his path. His uncle worked in a sheet metal shop, and was able to get him a job there. He quickly learned that taking a bit of action with regards to his sheet metal training would catapult him higher in his earnings, so he enrolled in trade school and alternated between work and school to learn the trade faster. His earnings rose as he completed coursework, but Marquez found himself unexcited about his path and started looking for more. Moving in with a friend and his dad turned out to be a real-life Rich Dad event, with his friend’s father introducing him to the concept of saving and investing. Marquez started listening to audio books and podcasts while working in the shop, looking for information about a better life. This self education led him to Scott’s book Set for Life, and then to BiggerPockets where he discovered that House Hacking, real estate investing and that he could marry real estate with a career and go from salaried trade work to commission based agent work where the sky was the limit with regards to earnings. He further discovered the job of Signing Agent and has now incorporated that into his work schedule as well. (For more information about Signing Agents, check out our episode 74 at www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow74.) Marquez knew college was not his path, so he followed the path he was meant for and is reaching for Financial Independence on his terms. In This Episode We Cover: Marquez's journey with money His experience working in a sheet metal shop Practical approach on making more money while in school Things that influence him to financial freedom His approach on building emergency funds and investments Talking about house hacking and his everyday expenses How he became a Notary Signing Agent Marquez's portfolio On index fund investing And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 44 with Tinian Crawford BiggerPockets Money Podcast 74 with Mark Wills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Matthews II started paying attention to finance way back in 6th grade - because his parents said they wouldn’t buy him any more video games, he’d have to buy them himself. Kevin’s parents telling him no propelled him into a lifelong planner - saving up for purchases rather than buying and figuring out how to pay it off later. And he parlayed his planning skills into a career as a financial advisor, eventually being named one of Investopedia’s Top 100 Advisors in 2017. Kevin is passionate about teaching people - specifically millennials - how to manage their money. In fact, he’s SO passionate about teaching people how to alter their financial lives, he almost missed the birth of his first child in order to make a video about how $2,000 can turn your kids into millionaires! (Spoiler: He made it back to the room in time.) Kevin wants you to know how to invest, how to manage your money so that you can further yourself down the path to Financial Independence. Kevin has an excellent video called Three ways to get started investing that discusses three ways we’ve never heard of! Kevin credits consistency in investing with his client’s financial successes. He also believes that patience is the number one thing investors need - a point that’s been hit home so clearly in the past few months - and that a lack of patience is the biggest mistake investors are making today. Kevin also shares tips for teaching your children about investing to get them used to seeing ups and downs, so they don’t lose their patience when they start investing with real dollars. In This Episode We Cover: Kevin's financial journey How he's saving his lunch money Becoming a financial planner Individual stocks vs. index funds When he discovered and committed to financial freedom Mistakes that he sees new investors make What his end-goal looks like How $2,000 can make your kids millionaires 3 ways to get started investing And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 129 with Tiffany Aliche BiggerPockets Money Podcast 110 with A Purple Life BiggerPockets Money Podcast 97 with Financial Mechanic BiggerPockets Money Podcast 119 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 41 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 84 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 118 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 24 with Erin Lowry BiggerPockets Money Podcast 81 with Erin Lowry How $2,000 can turn your kids into millionaires Three ways to get started investing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan and Norm got married a little later in life. They started off basically flat, with debts equalling assets. Neither wanted to have the debt, and focused on paying it off and building an emergency fund. Then they discovered that they could retire early if they put their minds to it. So they jumped in with both feet, paid off the mortgage, bought an investment condo, paid it off, and aggressively saved to buy the second condo. From the time they met until the time they were ready to retire, starting with basically a $0 net worth, was 12 years. Starting at age 43. The one constant in their journey is their partnership, their commitment to each other and the end goal, and their desire to “be in this together.” Susan and Norm have a very clear respect and love for each other, never keeping score, never trying to hide a mistake from the other, always recognizing that they’re building their life together. When starting on the journey to Financial Independence, it can be difficult to say the course - especially when your journey starts later than most. Susan and Norm and an excellent example of what CAN happen when you make a goal and aggressively pursue success. This episode is for anyone who is struggling in their journey to FI, have hit a setback they feel is insurmountable, or anyone who is just getting started on their journey a little later in life. In This Episode We Cover: When did they start saving for retirement How they approach the conversation about money The decisions they make on housing, transportation, and food How they paid off their debt What their emergency fund looks like What their company do What they learned about the 401k benefits from a self-employment perspective Talking about their multiple income streams The book that made their mindset shift Peer-to-peer lending What they will do when they are fully retired And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 24 with Erin Lowry Cash Cow Couple Personal Capital Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Starting Late, But Retiring Early: A Case Study Mindy's email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we welcome back the Budgetnista, Tiffany Aliche. When we spoke to her way back in episode 8, we heard her story of an investment gone wrong and how 2008 really threw a monkey wrench into her life plans. But instead of allowing that to deter her, Tiffany committed to teaching people how to budget. Since we last spoke, she has expanded her original, uber-successful Live Richer Challenge (www.livericherchallenge.com) into a savings edition, a credit edition, a net worth edition, and a homebuying edition—all free and all designed to teach you the things you never learned about money and finance. Tiffany is SO PASSIONATE about personal finance that she worked tirelessly for more than two years to get a bill passed in New Jersey, mandating financial literacy education for middle schoolers. (Want to duplicate her success in your state? Here’s a video that details how she did it: How to Get a Law Passed with Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight. But she’s not done! Tiffany has combined her love of budgeting with her love of teaching children in her new book Happy Birthday Mali More, and on today’s episode, she shares her top tips for teaching your children the fundamentals of managing money properly. If you have children, this episode can help you figure out the age-appropriate lessons you should be teaching them to help them grow into financially responsible adults. In This Episode We Cover: The Budgetnista Law The reason why parents have a hard time teaching their kids about money The concepts that parents should teach at various ages How early should parents start teaching their kids about money? Communicating the concept of financial freedom How Tiffany got her husband on board with financial freedom And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Live Richer Challenge BiggerPockets Money Podcast 08 with Tiffany Aliche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whitney Hanson is one of six children. Growing up she watched her father start a business, watched it fail, and watched him turn destructive, eventually leaving her mother to raise six kids on her own - all while making $7.25 an hour. Whitney has seen the ugly side of money - and what can happen when you have none - and decided she wanted no part of it. Money equals options, and she wanted as many options as she could get! She began to research how to build wealth, because she did not want to perpetuate the cycle of poverty. She knew she wanted to go to college, but also knew she’d have to find a way to pay for it. Rather than taking out tons of student loans, Whitney went through a 3-month cosmetology program starting the day after she graduated high school, and used the money she made as a nail technician to pay for college. Because she values financial stability over everything else, she bought a house when she turned 19 - and house hacked by renting two rooms to friends to help with the mortgage. Upon graduating college, she realized she had taken out $30,000 in student loans that now had to be paid back. Rather than allow it to rule her life, she cut out everything and worked a second job in order to knock out her debt - in 10 months! Whitney knew she had figured out how to lead a healthy financial life - and was eager to help others solve their own financial struggles. She started a coaching program to help financially empower people, and help them navigate the beginning stages of their financial journey. Whitney’s story is 100% repeatable for anyone listening. She came from nothing, and made it on her own. In This Episode We Cover: Whitney's journey with money Difference between a want and a need Her personal financial situation during highschool What her job is while she's studying college The reason why she bought a house at 19 years old Whitney's tips for students Talking about scholarships On her adulting moment Her ways on how she paid off her debt Her journey in creating a business during her MBA program Talking about her cashflow Biggest challenges that people are facing who she talk with about finances And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 64 with Zach Gautier BiggerPockets Money Podcast 80 with Rich and Regular BiggerPockets Money Podcast 112 with Natalie Kolodij BiggerPockets Money Podcast 111 with A Purple Mom Personal Capital XY Planning Network The Money Nerds Podcast 13 with Mindy Jensen The Money Nerds Podcast 37 with Mindy Jensen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You To Be Rich is back again to chat with Scott & Mindy about money, unexpected events, and taking advantage of opportunities by being prepared. Ramit does not hold back with his advice that the Coronavirus should be a financial wakeup call to you. A crisis like this WILL happen again (maybe not viral) and NOW is the time to prepare yourself. He’s increased his recommended Emergency Fund to one year of expenses. If you’re struggling right now, you should be making minimum payments because “money in your pocket now is worth more than money in your pocket later.” Start crafting your emergency plan even if you don’t think you’re going to need to use it. Panic is bad, but overreaction is good. Don’t worry about looking stupid. One of the reasons you save is to be prepared for the worst. So prepare. If you’re financially stable and strong, Ramit also has some tips for taking advantage of this crazy time we’re living in. Have you ever wanted to start your own business? While it can seem counterintuitive to start a business in these uncertain times, it’s actually a fantastic time to start. Your target audience is WAITING for you to fill the need they are having RIGHT NOW. Even better? Ramit and Mindy discuss Mindy’s pain points regarding homeschooling - and Ramit comes up with 3 6-figure business ideas on the spot! Scott & Mindy also discuss Dollar Cost Averaging, finding a new job now, and paying down debt. Looking for more options in the coming months? This episode can’t be missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial Education is so important - but so many people are graduating high school without the basic skills to make informed decisions. Today, Scott & Mindy sit down to share some of the big money moves you should make - as well as some of the big money mistakes you should avoid. These are the tips you didn't learn in high school. From choosing a major wisely (or even deciding if college is truly the right choice for you) to paying for college, to truly understanding just how much it will cost you to pay back your student loans, the decisions you're making now, entering college, are going to affect your financial future for years to come. They also discuss relationships, and how those can also have a huge impact on your finances. Other big decisions you need to consider include how and when to get a first credit card - and how to use it properly to improve and increase your credit score. Scott & Mindy also dive into just exactly what a credit score is - and how its far-reaching influence can affect your job and housing. Scott also shares his unique views on wants and needs - and how to minimize the costs of the needs so you can afford a few wants. This episode is a great intro to financial education for young adults who are eager to make excellent financial decisions and put themselves on the path to freedom. In This Episode We Cover: Decision-making process after highschool The difference between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans The importance of calculating total student loans Everything you need to know about credit scores The difference between good and bad debt How relationships impact money and the importance of prenup Wants vs. needs Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and 401(k)s How to set up automatic investments And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Mindy's Post on BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 44 with Tinian Crawford BiggerPockets Money Podcast 22 with Travis Hornsby Which to Borrow: Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Student Loans Student Loan Calculator BiggerPockets Money Podcast 64 with Zach Gautier BiggerPockets Money Podcast 35 with Craig Curelop BiggerPockets Money Podcast 81 with Erin Lowry Fidelity Investments Vanguard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we speak with Fritz Gilbert from The Retirement Manifesto and go through his checklist to ensure a smooth transition into your new life. Fritz speaks from experience and wrote the checklist during his own transition, starting five years out. Oh yes, FIVE YEARS. If you want a smooth transition, you’ll need to plan ahead. Scott and Mindy go through the checklist with Fritz, starting at five years before your retirement date. (They even touch on what to do BEFORE five years out.) Fritz’s list is extremely thorough and includes things you’ve most likely NOT even thought about. From paying down debt to checking in with a financial planner to transferring all that personal stuff you currently have on your work computer or in your work email, we cover the obvious. But more importantly, we also touch on the “Oh man, I totally forgot to do that” stuff, which can be the difference between a seamless transition and one filled with “I wish I had done things differently.” Fritz is such an expert in retirement planning that he wrote a new book about it: Keys to a Successful Retirement: Staying Happy, Active and Productive in Your Retired Years. In this book, Fritz shares 24 keys to a great retirement—once you’ve made sure the transition goes well. If you are on the path to retirement, this episode is NOT to be missed! In This Episode We Cover: What his pre-retirement checklist is all about What his financial position looks like five years prior to retirement His advice to people who are pursuing financial independence before starting The "one more year" syndrome 5-year, 3-year, 2-year, 1-year, and 6-month checklists before retiring Quitting your job And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 41 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 84 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 118 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55 with Millennial Revolution BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55.5 with Millennial Revolution LastPass The Ultimate Pre-Retirement Checklist Early Retirement Calculator 20 Steps To Take In The Before Retirement The First 6 Steps To Financial Wealth So You Want To Be A Millionaire Freedom For Fido Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerry Born is a teacher who is married to a teacher. He started his financial independence journey when he was 33—with a wife, $45,000 in college debt, and a job in Saudi Arabia teaching English as a second language (ESL). He knocked out his debt in two years, then threw everything he could into savings. The ESL job provided everything but internet and phone, so he really didn’t need to spend much money if he didn’t want to. After 9/11, they moved back to the United States and got jobs teaching—and you know what kind of salaries teachers make! Unhappy with that particular school, they moved on to a different one and discovered the magic of the 457 plan. A 457 plan is an additional retirement savings vehicle available to teachers and some public employees. It has the same contribution limits as a 401(k) but can be immediately accessed penalty-free as soon as you separate service from your employer. Gerry uses this to fund his life while reducing his taxable income to as close to zero as possible. If you’re starting late—or if you’re a teacher or public employee—this episode provides tips for funding retirement that will blow your mind! In This Episode We Cover: How he retired early on a teacher's salary The tax advantages he swears by The reason why he maxed out his 457 plan first What a 403(b) plan is His job in Saudi Arabia How he got into the concept of financial freedom How he paid off his debt How he saved his money How he maximized his income And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Podcast 39 How We Saved 250k by Taking Crappy Jobs - The Millionaire Educator Mr. Money Mustache Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining us today is Avery Heilbron, a listener on his way to financial independence through real estate investing. But Avery isn’t going all out and buying up every property as fast as he can. He’s making calculated purchases that allow him to live for free - and also cashflow while he’s there even though he lives in a high cost of living area. Once he moves out, that cashflow increases even more! Avery is also thinking ahead, and mitigating his risk of non-payment of rent by using the Section 8 rental assistance program to help guarantee rent payments. Oh, and Avery is 25. He went to college on a soccer scholarship, worked through school, studied hard and graduated with ZERO student loans and a great job. Do you have high school or college students in your life? This episode can help give them direction and encouragement that a little careful thought can have a HUGE impact on your future financial situation. In This Episode We Cover: How he purchased a property that was originally listed for $800k in January of 2020 for less than $700k Avery's journey with money How he discover financial freedom Talking about FHA loan and why it is so unattractive to sellers His plans to achieve financial independence Talking about his rental properties His philosophy on reserves What Section 8 program is On house hacking His side hustle And SO much more! Links: BiggerPockets Forums Should I charge my Girlfriend rent? Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group The Official BiggerPocket Facebook Group BiggerPockets Podcast 356 Check the full show notes: http://biggerpockets.com/moneyshow123 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Mindy have focused on Coronavirus for the last few episodes - talking to experts about how the virus has affected the stock market, the 4% rule, and even early retirees. They’ve interviewed Financial Planners to get tips for using the current market conditions to their advantage, as well as chatted with a mortgage broker to determine the best time to refinance. In this episode, Scott and Mindy talk about lifestyle creep - and how they have both been affected over the last couple of years. They revisit the basics of Financial Independence, spending less than you earn, increasing your income, investing wisely, creating multiple sources of income, and living your best life once money has been taken care of. Using their lockdown spending as a guide, Scott and Mindy go through the steps they’ve taken and the changes they’ve made to their expenses - including what they will add back once the world reopens and what expenses they don’t miss. This episode will help you get back to your Financial Independence basics, too. In This Episode We Cover: The basics of Financial Independence Spending less than you earn How Scott and Mindy save their money How their spending changed Increasing your income Investing in low cost, quality investment vehicles Creating multiple, passive streams of income Living the life you truly love And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Podcast 116 with JL Collins BiggerPockets Money Podcast 41 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 84 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 118 with Kyle Mast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 119 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 120 with Michael Kitces BiggerPockets Money Podcast 121 with Seth Jones BiggerPockets Money Podcast 03 with Erin Chase BiggerPockets Money Podcast 97 with Financial Mechanic BiggerPockets Business Podcast 51 with Nigel Guisinger Mint Something about Food Podcast Waffles on Wednesday: Make Your Own Free Mobile Expense Tracking App in 30 Minutes Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Facebook Page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mortgage Broker Seth Jones talks about the current mortgage market. We discuss mortgage forbearance - how it affects your credit and why it's NOT a good idea to go into forbearance if you can still make your mortgage payments. We also talk about mortgages - how to apply for a new loan or refinance, what lenders are looking for and how to get the best rate on your new loan. We'll also dive into comparison shopping and how to choose the right lender. Lending is tightening up, while rates are dropping. We chat with Seth about what that looks like for a qualified borrower - and how to decide if now is the right time to get a new loan. We also discuss different types of funding, primary loans, second home loans and investment properties. We also clarify what mortgage fraud is - and how that can affect you. While it may seem like no big deal, it's actually a very big deal. Seth even shares a mortgage checklist below. If you need more information about the mortgage process, this episode is a must listen! In This Episode We Cover: The right time to take mortgage forbearance His thoughts on refinancing How a first time home buyer should approach their first mortgage Cash outlay Barriers to closing besides income disruptions Five categories of fees The difference between financing a primary home, secondary home, and an investment What mortgage fraud is And SO much more! Links from the Show Consumer Finance Protection Board Credit Karma Mortgage News Daily BiggerPockets Money Podcast 20: The Simple Path to Wealth—Index Funds Explained with JL Collins BiggerPockets Money Podcast 116: Long-Term Investing: Coronavirus Changes Nothing with JL Collins BiggerPockets Money Podcast 98: Change Your Money Mindset, Change Your Life with Vicki Robin BiggerPockets Money Facebook Page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Kitces joins us today to talk about Early Retirement - and how the recent stock market movement affects the FIRE Community and the 4% rule. We spend a lot of time on the 4% rule - including this graph which illustrates what Michael discusses - basically, there is an ultra-high probability that you will come to the end of 30 years with MORE money than you started out with, and an extremely LOW chance you’ll spend it all. In fact, only one time does the retirement fund hit zero - and even that isn’t until year 31! Since the FIRE Movement is based on the 4% rule, we wanted to hear from Michael, the Research Nerd Supreme, what he feels about it. “...historical safe withdrawal rates aren’t based on historical averages. They’re based on historical worst case scenarios.” Yes, we’re seeing some pretty big movement in the market, and yes, it can make you think. This episode provides some pretty powerful reassurance that “every little thing, is gonna be all right.” If you are worrying about your financial future, if you have money or want more, this powerful episode is a can’t miss, absolutely-must-listen edition of BiggerPockets Money. In This Episode We Cover: The origin of 4% rule Three different time periods that trigger the 4% number Safe withdrawal rates Different 4% rule scenario Bucket strategy Key assumptions that start crapping up on modeling or evaluating the short term cash bucket The right time to start looking at bonds Constant mid-course adjustments What a retirement red zone is Bond tent strategy Safe withdrawal rate research Guardrail strategy Smart money moves during this market Dollar cost averaging And SO much more! Links from the Show FinCon Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data Software Solutions To Calculate Safe Withdrawal Rates Online Data - Robert Shiller The Ratcheting Safe Withdrawal Rate – A More Dominant Version Of The 4% Rule? Yield Shield - Millennial Revolution How Has The 4% Rule Held Up Since The Tech Bubble And The 2008 Financial Crisis? Mr. Money Mustache BiggerPockets Money Facebook Page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, Scott & Mindy bring back four previous guests (and introduce a brand new–and future–guest) to talk about retirement, the stock market, and how this current environment is affecting their spending, saving and investing. Andy Hill last joined us for Episode 34 - and boy has his life changed! He left formal employment in January (and shares some surprising info about his income & investing prospects. Amy & Tim discuss their House Sitting & Travel Hacking plans, and how they are on hold during this unprecedented travel lockdown. Kristy & Bryce share how their Cash Cushion and Yield Shield strategy is working out (spoiler: just fine!) and how they are taking advantage of lower rates on AirBnB rentals to offset their now-postponed geographic arbitrage plans. The Mad Fientist is continuing to stay the course - but with a surprise revelation that he was a bit freaked out for a moment, too! And we introduce Doug Nordman from The Military Guide to our listeners, to hear his voice of reason and experience and offer encouragement during these crazy times. These five experienced retirees are here to reinforce the fact that Financial Independence IS worth pursuing, it DOES work, and the math IS accurate! Is it time to give up on Financial Independence? Nope, not even close! In This Episode We Cover: How Andy's life changed after his last interview in this podcast Andy's feeling about his decision on quitting his job and build his own business Andy's financial position before he leave his job One thing he wished he would have done differently before he left his job Amy and Tim's after retirement plan How they do their withdrawal on their stock portfolio to sustain their lifestyle What their plan right now Amy and Tim's advice for people who want to follow their footsteps How prepared Brandon was Brandon's opinion on the 4% rule What does he recommend having cash buffer Brandon's definition of a cash buffer Brandon's advice for people who are in the journey to Financial Independence Bryce and Kristy's cash cushion Their travelling routine Their advice Continuing to invest their money on stock market The reason why Doug is not concerned about the recession How prepared Doug was Doug's advice And SO much more! Links from the Show: How to Access Retirement Funds Early - Mad Fientist BiggerPockets Money Podcast 34 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 57 Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55.5 Airbnb Fear And Despair In The Time Of Bear Markets - Military Guide Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Bonus Episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast is to help keep you informed of the Stimulus act that Congress is putting into place to help Americans with the Coronavirus and unprecedented shutdown of most of the economy. Joining Mindy today is Natalie Kolodij, who last appeared on Episode 112. Today’s episode was recorded on March 28, and we are fully expecting additional clarification and guidance from the federal government on these provisions. Congress just passed a 2.2 TRILLION dollar bill to provide relief for Americans in the face of the Coronavirus. While the bill does provide for monetary help, there’s a lot of other benefits that may not be getting the same press. OF COURSE we talk about the checks: How much, Who is eligible, When does it arrive? We also go a bit further and answer if it’s taxed, do you have to pay it back, is it a loan? If you have a 401(k), IRA or even a Roth IRA, there are additional provisions for you to consider like extended loan limits and penalty-free distributions. There are benefits for already retired people such as no RMDs this year if you haven’t already taken them. We discuss the student loan interest rate freeze and how to take advantage of their no payment option. We even touch on the additional provisions to employers such as IRC Section 139 changes that allow employers to help their employees out during this time of crisis, payroll deferment, sick leave, employee retention benefits and extended unemployment benefits. If we have our financial ducks in a row, now could be a great time to make some tax-advantaged moves. In This Episode We Cover: How to qualify stimulus check How much money people get on stimulus check Key thing to keep in mind with stimulus check Can people refuse the check Stimulus check for dependents Are green card holders and H1B VISA holders who work and pay taxes eligible for these benefits IRA versus 401k distribution Things to consider before converting funds from a traditional plan to a Roth plan Are there any provisions for already retired people How can an employer use the IRC Section 139, Disaster Relief Payments How does provision work on student loans Families First Coronavirus Response Act Employee Retention Credits Payroll tax payment deferral And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 118 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 112 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kyle Mast is a Certified Financial Planner, back for his third episode to answer YOUR questions about our current market conditions. We ask him the questions YOU had on your mind, including rebalancing your portfolio, staying the course, and trying to time the market. We take a deep dive into the retirement planning system, including weighing the benefits of Roth plans vs a traditional plans, and even discuss whether converting pre-tax retirement funds into post-tax funds during this down market is the right choice for you. While this episode focuses more on the state of the stock market, we do discuss real estate investing, and considerations for whether you should jump in or hold back. As always, consulting your own tax advisor and financial planner is advised, but Kyle brings up some very interesting ideas to take advantage of this down market. In This Episode We Cover: What people should do on their asset allocation with the situation right now The best way to protect your net worth in this economy Talking about Roth contributions Contribution limits on a Roth 401k A good plan to start investing in stocks for a short-mid term leaving the Real Estate aside for a while Kyle's thoughts on 4% rule Kyle's thoughts on withdrawing Roth IRA contribution for down payment on a rental property What is a good use for Stimulus Check How can someone find a good estate planner or estate planning attorney The importance of estate planning And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 41 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 84 BiggerPockets Podcast 374 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 116 Mad Fientist Dow Jones - DJIA - 100 Year Historical Chart | MacroTrends BiggerPockets Money Podcast 49 Mindy's email Scott's email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Scott and Mindy discuss the biggest news story of the century: Coronavirus or COVID-19. This episode covers a wide range of topics both money and real estate -- with a guest spot from Brandon Turner, who answers the number one question on every real estate investor’s mind: What do I do if my tenant(s) can’t pay rent? You'll also learn what resources are available for people whose incomes have taken a hit, and get answers to questions such as: should I continue with the purchase of a property I have under contract, and should I continue to pay down debt or take advantage of this current market? These are scary times, and it can be easy to cut and run or throw out your carefully-laid plans in favor of an instinctive reaction. So now is a good time to detach, assess your options, and chart a course forward. If you have Coronavirus fears, you’re not alone. Scott, Mindy, and the entire BiggerPockets Money Community are here to help you weather this storm. In This Episode We Cover: How to invest from a position of strength How to tackle debt during this time How to do a "financial reset" What the 4 Percent Rule is in Financial Independence Brandon's tip when tenants don't pay rent What practical things can landlord do in these times How to take advantage of the current situation List of resources for those who are out of work BiggerPockets reminders that you should consider And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Money Podcast 116 BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Investments Calculator BiggerPockets Podcast 374 BiggerPockets Podcast 364 BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast BiggerPockets Money Podcast 70 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 55.5 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 114 BiggerPockets Money Podcast 85 Mr. Money Mustache How The 4% Rule Holds Up A Quarter-Century Later - Forbes Real Estate Rookie COVID-19 Financial Resources: Relief To Those Impacted - iHeartBudgets 197 Emergency Financial Assistance Resources (National & by Major City) - Frugal Confessions 50 immediate hire work from home jobs near me (2020) - Mrs Daaku Studio BiggerPockets Forums The BiggerPockets Book Store Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market is up, then down, then down, then up. What is an investor to do? Today we bring JLCollins from JLCollinsNH.com back to the show to calm our fears and help us understand what is happening with the stock market. The market is falling. Or maybe today it’s rising. It’s SO VOLATILE, it can be scary to stay invested - especially if you’ve never been through a market downturn. JL expertly explains what’s going on - and his recommendations for the best course of action - based on 40 years of investing in the stock market (and making a boatload of mistakes along the way.) Long story short, stay the course. 105 years of historical stock market data says this too shall pass. While JL is an expert on the stock market, he doesn’t invest in real estate, so Scott and Mindy share their views about the real estate market and what this current stock market volatility might mean for real estate investors. They also share ways to hedge your bets in rental property investing through fully funded reserves. If you’re freaking out about the stock market, this episode can help calm your fears and keep you on the right course to give you the most chance for financial success. In This Episode We Cover: Why are people freaking about the crash How one should handle this market drop if you risk losing your job When to prepare emergency funds and how much to put into it Why you should hold your portfolio forever What an Index Fund is Why it is important to "ignore" the market How index outperform stock picking How one can never time the market How those who say they predicted the market only did it because of luck The only time the market is not going to recover... And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Podcast 20: The Simple Path to Wealth—Index Funds Explained with JL Collins Mr. Money Mustache Taking advantage of Mr. Bear A Guided Meditation for When the Stock Market Is Dropping Stocks — Part XXXII: Why you should not be in the stock market Time Machine and the future returns for stocks Pinterest Dow Jones - DJIA - 100 Year Historical Chart | MacroTrends BiggerPockets Money Podcast 95: The House Hacking Strategy with Craig Curelop BiggerPockets Money Facebook Page Mindy's email Scott's email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Felipe Mejia’s relationship with money started at an early age - when his parents divorced and his world turned upside down. His mother introduced him to the power of real estate by fixing up the basement and renting it out to generate income. His mother further influenced his money story by creating her own cleaning company and introducing Felipe to a client who hired Felipe to clean up his job sites. Felipe put his own spin on that by hiring the work out for a slightly lower rate than he was getting. Real estate became Felipe’s main source of income, generating enough that he does not have to work a traditional job any longer. Felipe Mejia, along with Ashley Kehr from Episode 114 are the hosts of BiggerPockets newest Podcast, Real Estate Rookie. Together, they share stories of real estate successes - as well as encouragement to get started investing in real estate. The Real Estate Rookie show is for anyone interested in investing in real estate - and needs a little encouragement. The Real Estate Rookie Podcast airs on Wednesdays wherever you get your podcasts. In This Episode We Cover: Felipe's money story How important money is for Felipe What he did to his first rental property The importance of putting money into an investment How he earned money during his quest to join the police department On getting attracted to the power of earning passive income through real estate On house hacking Challenges he encountered in terms of his rental properties His advice on getting one’s spouse onboard How he approaches cash reserves And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast Airbnb Real Estate Rookie Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Kehr married a dairy farmer. With a dairy farm comes farm equipment. And with farm equipment comes farm equipment loans—to the tune of around $169,000. Three years ago, she read Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, and it CHANGED. HER. LIFE. Ashley knew she needed to get rid of their debt, but her husband wasn’t totally on board with the plan. So she tackled her student loan debt first—and proved to her husband that this was the right financial plan for their family. She quit the job she didn’t like and transitioned into property management, which introduced her to her current love of real estate. Real estate started providing a very generous income stream to help supplement her family’s income. When she didn’t have her own money to invest, she partnered with someone who did. When she didn’t have experience to do the project at hand, she partnered with someone who did. Ashley’s story is a delight to listen to. She walks us step by step through the process she took to find these partners, find these properties, and generate this income stream for her family. If you’re thinking about getting into real estate as a source of passive income, this is a must-listen episode! In This Episode We Cover: Ashley's money journey How Ashley and her husband accumulate both rental properties and debt The moment she purchased her first rental How her rental income helps her to be more conscious about money Ashley and her partner's agreement on their investments 2 rules to analyze markets for rentals What a portfolio loan is and how to use it Ashley's method of recycling her cash to buy more properties What her lifestyle looks like after reading Dave Ramsey's book Debt snowball method How Ashley managed her various properties with various partners And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast BiggerPockets Business Podcast BiggerPockets Calculators BiggerPockets Podcast 348: Full-Time Job, Full-Time Mom, and Full-Time Wealth From Rentals with Ashley Kehr BiggerPockets Money Podcast 20: The Simple Path to Wealth—Index Funds Explained with JL Collins BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we sit down with Bianca DiValerio, a flight attendant who makes an hourly wage, has no college degree, experienced THREE short sales during the economic downturn, and yet is STILL financially independent—all before turning 40. How did she do it? She saved her money. She didn’t spend it on things that didn’t matter to her. There is literally NO secret sauce to her story. In fact, she thought she had her future planned out! She had purchased three rental properties to provide a stream of passive income—only to lose them to short sale when unexpected special assessments of $5,000 each became too much for her to afford. And yet, she saved her money. She didn’t spend it on things that didn’t matter to her. And she dug herself out of the financial hole that the short sale pushed her into. She pulled herself back up and started her nest egg over, saving enough to pay cash for a unit in the same building, so she’d never lose her home again. She’s turned that into a rental, lives in a caboose five months out of the year (yes, a TRAIN CABOOSE), and while she has enough money to never HAVE to work again, she enjoys her job, can literally choose when she works, and is living her best life. Bianca is proof that you can recover from an unplanned financial catastrophe, thrive, and STILL reach financial independence—all before you turn 40. You just have to follow the proven path to financial freedom. In This Episode We Cover: Bianca's journey with money How she avoid on having debt The problem with not having a college degree What happened after she got her job as a flight attendant How she got into real estate Her thoughts on investment The importance of having cash reserves Her credit score after her three short sales The moment she came across the FIRE movement Her experience living in a train caboose Reasons to not quit your job And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natalie Kolodij is a tax strategist. (You’ve probably seen her in the forums!) With April 15 looming around the corner, we’re going to chat about ways to choose the RIGHT tax professional who can best serve YOUR specific needs. Natalie also shares a few red flags about potential tax preparers, as well as specific things your tax pro should be asking for—and what it means if they do not. She’ll also share some common missed deductions that can cost you BIG and how to prepare and organize your documents so your tax pro can process your returns quickly, efficiently, and with the least amount of time billed to you. Looking for that seemingly-elusive real estate professional status? Natalie explains in detail how to qualify for this lucrative benefit. She even shares how long you can depreciate a kangaroo! If you’re a taxpayer, this show can help you save time and money. If you’re a real estate investor/taxpayer, you can’t afford NOT to listen to Natalie’s advice! In This Episode We Cover: The right time for somebody to start looking for a tax professional How to find a tax professional How important state-specific knowledge is What a true expert can bring to the table regarding your return What a real estate professional is Benefits of consulting a tax professional prior to buying a property How to prepare for a meeting with your tax professional 3 most common errors—check these before submitting your return How to approach a tax return for a house hack or duplex What to do if you recognize issues with past returns What depreciation recapture is And SO much more! Links from the Show MileIQ: Mileage Tracking App BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group BiggerPockets Money Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices