9 to FI - Financial Independence Conversations

Navigating the Journey Beyond Financial IndependenceIn this episode of the 'Nine to FI' podcast, hosts Josh and Elliot discuss an article from the Mad Fientist about leaving the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement. They explore the nuanced stages of pursuing financial independence and the shift in focus from aggressive saving to enjoying financial freedom. The conversation...

Navigating Holiday Breaks and Amazon Prime CancellationIn this episode of the Nine to FI podcast, hosts Josh and Elliot discuss their experiences and reflections on holiday breaks, detailing the contrast between Josh's retired life and Elliot's imminent return to full-time employment. They dive into the 'Sunday scaries' and how the ability to manage time during holidays has shifted. The episode al...

Setting Intentional Goals and Resolutions for Growth in 2026 In this episode, Josh and Elliot discuss their approaches to goal-setting and New Year's resolutions as they enter 2026. Josh shares his practice of yearly goal-setting with his wife while Elliot shares his preference for building sustainable systems over resolutions. They reflect on their journeys, including lessons learned from the fin...

Exploring Side Hustles: From Handyman Jobs to YouTube Success In this episode, hosts Josh and Elliot dive into the world of side hustles, continuing their discussion from episode 21 - Winning With Side Hustles. Josh shares his journey starting in 2012 with handyman work and eventually transitioning into real estate investing. He highlights the flexibility and opportunities available through variou...

Navigating Gift Giving and Reflections on the Nine to FI Podcast In this episode of the Nine to FI Podcast, hosts Josh and Elliot share their thoughts on gift-giving practices during the holiday season. Covering everything from family traditions to budgeting, they discuss their preference for experiences over material possessions and reflect on their personal approaches to giving gifts. Additional...

Leaving a Six-Figure Career for Personal Independence: Insights from the 9toFI Podcast If you found this discussion helpful, please Like this video, Subscribe to the 9toFI channel, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments below!https://youtube.com/@9tofi?si=hvip4nsvatb-D1q0In this episode of 9toFI, hosts Elliot and Josh discuss their experiences and decisions of stepping away from hig...

In this episode of Nine to FI, hosts Josh and Elliot dive deep into the world of side hustles, discussing their own experiences and the various types of side gigs people undertake. The episode covers the financial and personal benefits of side hustles, highlighted by interesting statistics and generational differences. They explore part-time jobs, gig economy roles, freelance work, entrepreneurial...

Preparing for Early Retirement: Elliot's Journey and Financial Planning In this episode, hosts Elliot and Josh delve into Elliot's financial journey and imminent transition to early retirement. They discuss key aspects that contribute to readiness for retirement, such as setting retirement dates, understanding the 4% rule, evaluating current and projected expenses, and planning for major u...

In this episode of the Nine to FI podcast, hosts Josh and Elliot dive into a comprehensive discussion about Josh's early retirement strategy. Josh retired at the age of 48, while his wife Lori still works full-time but is considering a shift to part-time employment. The episode offers a detailed look at their current financial status, including their cash reserves, brokerage account, and renta...

In this episode of the Nine to FI podcast, hosts Josh and Elliot kick off a case study addressing Elliot's housing dilemma. They discuss the pros and cons of moving, building a new home, or expanding the current one, considering financial constraints and family needs. Elliot shares past experiences with contractors and the challenges of financing a large home addition through loans. They also...

In this episode of nine to FI, we dive into how owning a 13-year-old Chevy Colorado for over nine years has significantly contributed to my journey towards financial independence and early retirement. Join Josh and Elliot as they discuss the financial benefits of keeping an older vehicle, the insights from recent car ownership statistics, and practical steps for turning a vehicle from a money pit...

In this episode of 'Nine to FI', hosts Josh and Elliot delve into the financial burdens and benefits of car ownership. They explore the average costs associated with car maintenance and offer practical tips for managing these expenses effectively. The conversation highlights the importance of preventative maintenance, how it can enhance vehicle longevity, improve safety, and save money in...

How CARS helped me achieve FIRE (reducing the cost for one of the BIG 3) In this episode of Nine to FI, Josh and Elliot explore the complex world of auto financing. They offer practical tips for car purchasing, share a mix of success and failure stories, and discuss their personal car ownership journeys. This episode kicks off a multi-part series focusing on cars and financial independence. Tune i...

Navigating Retirement and Housing Dilemmas: A Conversation on Financial Strategies In this episode, Josh and Elliot delve into personal financial challenges and decisions. Josh grapples with his wife Lori's reluctance to leave full-time work due to uncertainties about income replacement post-retirement. This kicks off a discussion on withdrawal strategies and asset management. Elliot shares hi...

Raising a FIRE-Conscious Family | 9toFI 013 | 9 to FI Podcast Join hosts Josh and Elliot on the 9 to FI Podcast as they discuss strategies for raising a family with a mindset focused on Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE). They share personal experiences, including the concept of the 'Bank of Mom and Dad', emphasizing the value of teaching money management and values to children fr...

How Real Estate Fast-Tracked Financial Freedom | 9toFI 012 | 9 to FI Podcast In this episode of 9 to FI, hosts Josh and Elliot delve into how building a portfolio of properties can accelerate the path to financial independence. Josh shares his personal journey, starting from his first fixer-upper in the early 2000s to a diversified portfolio that generates significant cash flow. Along the way, the...

From Nervous Speakers to Confident Podcasters In this episode, Elliot and Josh reflect on their podcast journey, particularly revisiting their very first episode, 'Intro to 9 to FI.' They discuss the feedback received and their initial challenges, then outline their personal and shared goals for the podcast. These goals include becoming better speakers, having deeper and more meaningful co...

How to avoid Retirement Burnout | 9toFI 010 | 9 to FI Podcast Elliot and Josh continue their deep dive into retirement planning on this episode of the 9 to FI Podcast. Reflecting on their meticulously planned retirement schedules, they share their real post-retirement experiences, highlighting the inevitable deviations and surprises. Josh opens up about the challenges of maintaining a perfect reti...

Planning Your Perfect Post Work Life | 9toFI 009 | 9 to FI Podcast Join Elliot and Josh as they delve deep into the concept of early retirement and the journey of financial independence. Josh shares his personal experiences and plans leading up to his transition to early retirement, emphasizing the importance of having a purpose and activities to retire to. The episode explores various exercises a...

Crafting Community on the Road to FI Join Josh and Elliot as they dive into their weekend activities and talk about the value of community. They recount experiences from fixing rental properties and attending children's soccer games, to meeting and learning about the Financial Independence (FI) community. The discussion touches on car repairs, kid's sports, and engaging with local FI meetu...

Retire Early or Enjoy Now? Welcome to the 9 to FI Podcast with Elliot and Josh! In this episode, we explore the evolution of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. Starting with 'Old School' FIRE principles, focused on extreme frugality and rapid wealth accumulation, we transition into the emerging 'New FIRE' concepts like Slow FI, Barista FI, and Fat FI. Join us...

Are You Saving or Just Being Cheap? | 9 to FI Podcast Join Josh and Elliot in this episode of the 9 to FI Podcast as they delve into the often blurred line between frugality and being cheap. In a world where upgrading to the latest gadgets and luxurious cars is the norm, how do you define what's truly necessary versus what's merely extravagant? The hosts share personal anecdotes, discuss l...

How to finally get your partner on the same page about Money Welcome to the 9 to FI Podcast with hosts Elliot and Josh! In this episode, they dive into the topics of budgeting and the concept of 'money dates.' Elliot and Josh share personal experiences on how they and their partners manage finances and the evolution of their budgeting practices. They discuss the importance of budgeting for...

Navigating Conversations about FIRE with Friends | 9 to FI Podcast Welcome to the 9 to FI Podcast with hosts Elliot and Josh. In this episode, we dive into the tricky topic of discussing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) with friends. Imagine explaining to friends that you want to retire decades earlier than they thought possible. We cover why talking about money and FIRE can be challeng...

The Money Lessons that shaped Elliot. In this episode, Josh and Elliot recount their mutual connection, setting the stage for Elliot's captivating financial journey. Starting from a privileged yet not overly abundant childhood, Elliot navigates through private and public schooling, budget-conscious parenting, and early job experiences. He shares his early lessons on money, heavily influenced b...