9 to FI - Financial Independence Conversations

Episode 50 Recap: Revisiting Our Biggest FIRE Decisions, Community, and Plans Josh and Elliot celebrate reaching 50 podcast episodes and recap prior discussions to see what changed. Josh’s high-mileage Chevy Colorado is still running and he plans a long road trip. Elliot revisits his housing case study and currently chooses to “do nothing” and stay put. Josh updates that his wife Lori remains full...

The Hardest Part of Early Retirement: Mental Health, Rumination, and Finding HappinessJosh and Elliot discuss common challenges of early retirement—shifting from saving to spending, boredom, healthcare uncertainty (ACA subsidies and planning), loss of identity and guilt when saying you’re retired, social isolation, and fear of running out of money (Monte Carlo simulations, one-more-year syndrome,...

College Planning, 529 Tradeoffs, and Flexible Ways to Support KidsElliot and Josh chat about summer heat, an upcoming Colorado trip for Camp FI, and how long emails get ignored, then segue into college expenses and planning. Elliot references an Inside Out Money episode contrasting underfunding vs. heavy 529 saving (including a $600,000 example) and discusses 529 flexibility alongside concerns abo...

Net Worth vs. Investable (Liquid) Assets: What Really Funds Financial IndependenceJosh and Elliot discuss the difference between net worth and investable assets (liquid net worth) and why confusing them can mislead financial independence planning. Net worth is assets minus liabilities and can include a primary residence, cars, and real estate equity, but those assets may not be easily tapped to fu...

Finding Your "Why" for Financial Independence: Security, Time, Health, and Giving BackJosh and Elliot open with a humorous aside about “newspapers,” then discuss a Choose FI podcast episode featuring Allen Hansen and Kristen Knapp that raised the question of why people pursue financial independence beyond the math. They share how early experiences shaped their motivations: Josh describes...

Asset Allocation vs. Asset Location: Building Flexibility and Tax EfficiencyElliot and Josh discuss the concepts of asset allocation and asset location, noting that financial terminology can be unclear and that fee-only fiduciary advice may be useful, while the AUM model is discouraged. They review common asset types (stocks, bonds, cash equivalents/treasuries, real estate, alternatives like gold,...

Is Financial Independence Still Repeatable? Talking “Beating the System,” Time, and Modern OptionsJosh asks Elliott about co-presenting an FI 201 session, which Elliott says went well with positive feedback and a turnout in the mid-60s to 70s, and they discuss continuing educational events to complement the group’s social focus. Josh then shares a comment from his 25-year-old son Caleb after Josh’...

Previewing FI 201: Investing, Risk, Accounts, and SpeculationJosh and Elliot discuss Elliot’s upcoming FI 201 presentation for their local Choose FI group, co-presented with Alan Hansen, after their well-attended FI 101 session drew about 75 people and was later shared within the Choose FI community. Elliot outlines FI 201 topics including saving vs investing vs speculating, investment risk and ri...

Should We Tap a 401(k) Early for Home Upgrades? A Middle-Class Trap Liquidity DebateJosh and Elliot discuss the “middle class trap” idea—having most wealth tied up in 401(k)s and home equity—and how it affects liquidity and flexibility. Josh is retired with nearly $2.9M net worth, outlines cash ($65K), taxable brokerage (~$95K), $1.4M tax-deferred 401(k)s, paid-off home with a $135K HELOC at 7.75%...

Morning Routines After FI: Slow Mornings, Habits, and StructureJosh and Elliot discuss the value of routines—especially morning routines—after retirement and in working life, sparked by Sarah sharing an Inside Out Money episode about compounding habits. Josh recounts the host’s early-retirement lack of structure and how adopting morning habits (sunlight, water, exercise) improved her feelings of l...

The Power of Saying No: Boundaries at Work, with Family, and with YourselfJosh and Elliot discuss how to say no to bosses, coworkers, friends, family, and oneself, reflecting on their shared people-pleasing tendencies. They open with accountability updates (Josh scheduling a colonoscopy; Elliot struggling to restart workouts after illness and foot pain), then share examples of difficulty setting b...

One Year Retired: Finding Pace, Purpose, and Permission to Spend Elliot and Josh discuss Josh passing one year since retiring after a 25-year career. Josh reflects on celebrating the milestone with a commemorative bike ride, says retirement has been overwhelmingly positive, and describes learning to slow down, avoid overloading projects, and use the power of saying no. He wants more small-group so...

Health Updates, Market Dip Investing, Rental Property Drag, and the Decision to Stay in the U.S. Josh and Elliot discuss several updates: both are working on fitness routines and comparing heavier-weight/low-rep training with lighter-weight/higher-rep approaches focused on avoiding injury, while Josh admits he still hasn’t scheduled a colonoscopy after his physical. They talk investing during a ma...

Exploring a Move to France: Small-Town Life, Schools, Housing, and the Travel Reality Check Elliot returns to the podcast and briefly recaps how Lori filled in as a guest, then he shares details from a 10-day exploratory trip to France with Dawn focused on potentially relocating. They flew from St. Louis to Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Bordeaux, rented a car, and spent most of their time in the small v...

Why We Paid Off a 3.75% Mortgage Early (and What My First Year of Retirement Looks Like) | Josh & Lori Why would Josh and Lori pay off a low-interest 3.75% mortgage years early—before Josh retired? On 9 to FI, Josh hosts the show solo while co-host Elliot travels in France, and welcomes first-time guest Lori for a candid conversation recorded in a Columbia, Missouri hotel before a Nick Hexum c...

Do Josh and Elliot Regret Chasing Financial Independence? ACA Health Insurance Costs, FI Sacrifices, and Lessons LearnedDo Josh and Elliot have regrets from chasing financial independence? Before discussing regrets, Josh shares what he learned about ACA health insurance and premium tax credits after listening to ChooseFI episode 588 with Cody Garrett: premiums rise with age (potentially 7–8% yearl...

Josh Recaps a Two-Week Las Vegas Trip as Josh and Elliot Discuss FIRE Spending, the 4% Rule, and ACA Subsidy CliffsJosh and Elliot record an off-the-cuff episode to keep their weekly podcast goal, with Josh recapping a two-week Las Vegas trip focused on concerts (Def Leppard and two long 311 sets), hiking, and other entertainment rather than heavy gambling, though a brief roulette/blackjack run wi...

Josh and Elliot Do an Expense Audit: Stop Lifestyle Creep, Cut Money Leaks, and Reduce Big Tech DependenceJosh tells Elliot he was mentioned in ChooseFI episode 586 (“Stop Lifestyle Creep with the Expense Audit”) after emailing in about finding “money leaks” by reviewing Q4 expenses, comparing the process to cleaning out a junk drawer, and cutting about $400/month. Josh and Elliot discuss how peri...

Josh on Early Retirement Real Estate Turnover + Elliot’s Plan to Move His Family to France in 2026Josh shares how a tenant turnover and light rehab has felt like a part-time job in early retirement, especially due to multiple commutes into the city, and explains they’re not rushing the turnaround while handling painting and minor repairs themselves. He also discusses tracking hours toward IRS real...

Considering a Move to Europe for FI: Italian Passports, Geoarbitrage, and Escaping Rising US CostsThe conversation centers on a family’s renewed consideration of relocating from the US to Europe. Elliot describes a prior relocation request that was approved and then reversed at the last minute, and explains that with a new boss they may ask again this year, noting the worst outcome is being told n...

Do you have feedback or suggestions? We want to hear from you! Contact Elliot: Elliot@ninetofipod.com Contact Josh: Josh@ninetofipod.com The Great Transition: How to Move from Full-Time Work to Early Retirement Without One-More-Year SyndromeElliot and Josh discuss the under-covered topic of transitioning from full-time employment into early retirement. Josh recounts how he ended up at a company he...

Navigating Life's Inevitable: Reverse Obituaries, Financial Planning, and Living Fully In this episode, Josh and Elliot discuss the impact of Snow Apocalypse 2026 and delve into the concept of a 'reverse obituary,' inspired by Warren Buffet's idea of planning life with the end in mind. They highlight the importance of financial preparedness and estate planning, emphasizing actions...

Navigating Early Retirement: Reflections and Plans In this episode of 'Nine to FI,' hosts Josh and Elliot discuss the ups and downs of early retirement. Josh shares his experiences since retiring at 48, including the surprising challenges of maintaining a routine and staying healthy. The duo also reflects on 'Blue Monday' and its impact on mental health. They talk about their plans...

Balancing Financial Support: Navigating Family Investments in Children's Futures In this episode, hosts Josh and Elliot discuss varying approaches to financially supporting children from high school through to adulthood. They explore concepts such as purchasing first cars, college funding, and financial independence, drawing on their own experiences as well as the evolving landscape of education a...

Year-End Financial Review: Analyzing Spending Habits and Optimizing SavingsIn this episode of Nine to FI, Josh and Elliot delve into their year-end financial reviews, discussing Josh's early retirement journey and Elliot's steps towards the same goal. The hosts share their insights on managing finances post-retirement, including a detailed analysis of their spending categories such as trav...