ChooseFI | Financial Independence Podcast

Most people think bonds are the "safe" part of their portfolio — until interest rates spike and their bond fund drops 15%. Brad and Rachael Camp, a Certified Financial Planner, cut through the confusion in this mailbag episode covering bonds, Roth IRA conversions, pensions, and inheritance strategies. Timestamps and Key Topics 00:01:10 - Introduction to Bonds 00:03:15 - Bonds vs. Bond Funds 00:24:...

Most people spend more time planning a vacation than analyzing how their financial decisions ripple through their entire life. Jesse Kramer, a relationship manager at a financial planning firm and host of the Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors podcast, sits down with Brad Barrett to challenge that approach. Financial planning isn't a linear checklist — it's a web where tugging one thread can...

Kristen Knapp grew up in poverty, hit a $0 net worth at 35, and thought she'd never retire. Now she's traveling the world part-time and leading group trips for the FI community. Her path didn't follow the typical script — no high-powered tech job, no frugal-from-birth origin story — just a relentless refusal to repeat her parents' financial struggles and a willingness to figure it out as she went....

Most people in the FI community have this completely backward: those retirement accounts you think are "trapping" you? They're actually your fastest path to freedom. Brad Barrett and CFP® Cody Garrett dismantle the so-called middle-class trap through four concrete case studies, showing why this perceived barrier exists only in our heads—not in our finances. The discussion examines how psychologica...

Most people think managing money is about spreadsheets and willpower—but what if your biggest financial obstacle is a story you've been telling yourself since childhood? Shannah Game, a certified financial planner and author of Unraveling Your Relationship with Money, reveals that personal finance is 90% psychology and emotion, not just numbers and logic. She explores how money trauma affects anyo...

Most mortgage payoff advice treats it like a pure math problem—but Ginger's story proves emotions matter just as much. When she shares her excitement about paying off her mortgage early, Brad pushes back with the numbers, sparking a candid back-and-forth on whether a 15-year or 30-year mortgage makes more sense, whether renting beats owning for flexibility, and how to avoid overspending while chas...

Most people obsess over whether they're savers or spenders—Meghan Combs thinks that's a trap. Ginger sits down with the Everyday FI podcast host to unpack her $527,000 net worth, a sub-$10,000 wedding, and why locking into a fixed money identity might be holding you back more than helping you move forward. Meghan shares her approach to budgeting after getting married, emphasizing alignment between...

A former CPA walked away from steady paychecks in 2023 to launch an organization that didn't exist yet — one that would blend financial independence with hands-on volunteering. Ryan Brennan, founder of the FI Service Corps, is betting that the FI community is hungry for more than meetups and spreadsheets: they want connection and the chance to give back, together. Ryan's background as a CPA gave h...

Most early retirees obsess over 401(k)s and IRAs — but they're ignoring the account that might actually matter most. Brad and Cody Garrett, CFP®, tackle the taxable brokerage account, the "most underappreciated account type" in the financial independence toolkit. While everyone chases tax-deferred contributions, taxable accounts offer something equally powerful: unlimited contributions, zero withd...

Most personal finance books promise you'll need decades of complex strategies to build wealth. JL Collins made millions by saying the opposite. Brad Barrett sits down with the author whose Simple Path to Wealth has sold over a million copies and become the blueprint for an entire movement. Collins reveals why his strategy—avoid debt, live below your means, invest in low-cost index funds—has remain...

Dr. Bobby DuBois returns to discuss the essential role of sleep in achieving financial independence and enhancing overall health. He addresses the worrying trend of sleep deprivation among Americans and its significant consequences on heart health, weight management, and cognitive functionality. This episode is filled with evidence-based insights and practical strategies aimed at prioritizing slee...

Most people think retirement account withdrawals come with a massive tax hit—but with a few strategic moves, you can reduce your lifetime tax burden by six figures or more. Brad Barrett and tax pro Rachael Camp break down how different account types—taxable brokerage, traditional IRAs, and 401ks—are taxed, and how to time your withdrawals to keep more money in your pocket. The conversation zeroes...

Food is the second largest expense category for most households — but how much of yours ends up in the trash? Brad and Ginger tackle listener questions on everything from mindful grocery spending and travel rewards strategies to building muscle without misery and maximizing the real ROI of FI events. Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction to Events 00:02:02 - Highlights from the Economy Conference Ginge...

The financial independence community recently ignited over a single phrase: "the middle-class trap." Mindy from BiggerPockets Money coined it to describe people who look wealthy on paper—substantial home equity, healthy retirement accounts—yet feel anything but free. Chris Mamula from Can I Retire Yet? pushed back, arguing the concept might mislead more than it helps. Brad Barrett brings them both...

Starting at 35 cuts your runway to retirement in half compared to starting at 25. Does that make financial independence impossible? Not even close—and the real question isn't about your age, it's about the tax strategy you're using right now. Brad and Sean Mulaney tackle listener questions about tax basketing, asset location, and retirement account optimization. The conversation covers how to mini...

Financial independence isn't just about early retirement—it's about preparing for the parts of life we're taught not to discuss. Vicki Robin, author of Your Money or Your Life, joins Ginger to explore the myths, isolation, and unexpected challenges of aging—and how building community now determines your quality of life later. The conversation confronts the loneliness many older individuals face, t...

Most people think teachers can't build wealth—but what if chasing homeownership was the real trap? Lexi, a first-grade teacher from Las Vegas, discovered that letting go of her single financial goal opened doors she never knew existed. After watching the COVID housing market boom price her out, she pivoted: invested in a master's degree, discovered high-yield savings accounts that actually worked...

Most people spend their entire financial journey waiting—waiting to have enough money, waiting for the perfect moment to invest, waiting to feel ready to quit a job they've outgrown. Katie and Alan Donegan decided to set that mindset to music. After receiving British Empire medals for their work in financial education, they created "Money Revolution," the world's first FI-themed album that turns t...

At age 31, Jess and Corey discovered they needed only $245,000 invested to retire by 62 — and suddenly, aggressive saving became optional. The Fioneers, who brought CoastFI into mainstream FI discourse, discuss making the psychological leap from high savings rates to actually living the flexibility they'd planned for years. They walk through experimenting with purposeful spending on camper van adv...

Bill Powell clawed his way out of credit card debt on a blue-collar income and reached financial independence — no six-figure salary required. Community member Bill Powell shares how he went from deep in credit card debt to years away from FI while working in the trades. He walks through the accountability practices that kept him on track — weekly email check-ins, journaling, and mentorship — and...

Ron Babcock thought he had to choose between financial security and doing what he loved—until he realized the two could work together. A TV editor and stand-up comedian, Ron brings an unconventional perspective to financial independence, blending creative work with deliberate money management. He shares how discovering the FI community ended his isolation, why he prioritizes long-term thinking ove...

Most investors — even sophisticated ones tracking every basis point — leave real money on the table through simple oversight. Cody Garrett, CFP® at Measure Twice Money, recently outlined ten mistakes that trip up DIY investors and financial advisors alike. Brad and Cody walk through each one, from asset location missteps to overlooked HSA opportunities, with a focus on making optimization practica...

You have $750,000 saved and desperately want to quit your soul-crushing job — but can you actually withdraw from that money right now? Brad Barrett and financial planner Rachael Camp tackle this listener question alongside Coast FI calculations, the Secure Act's 10-year inheritance bomb for non-spouse beneficiaries, and whether entrepreneurial spending counts as "real" investing. Timestamps & Key...

Brad Barrett built one of the most respected voices in financial independence—then watched his marriage fall apart. That paradox sits at the heart of this conversation, where Ginger pushes Brad to go beyond the optimized spreadsheets and tactical wins to confront what happens when life doesn't follow the FI script. This is Brad's story, eight years into hosting ChooseFI, reflecting on the personal...

Ten years ago, Jonathan walked away from his corporate accounting job with no clear path forward. Today, he's reflecting on the decade that followed—one shaped entirely by pursuing financial independence and the options it created. Brad and Jonathan kick off 2025 with a new "Wouldn't It Be Cool If" (WIBSF) series, starting with the most fundamental question: what could your life look like if finan...