ChooseFI | Financial Independence Podcast

One-third of family caregivers drain their personal savings to care for aging parents — and most have no plan for when that money runs out. Brad sits down with Danielle Miura, a CFP and founder of Spark Financials, to tackle the financial realities of elder care that few in the FI community openly discuss. Danielle brings both professional expertise and personal experience as a family caregiver to...

Most people know muscle loss accelerates after 35—fewer realize you can reverse it with just two gym sessions a week. Personal trainer Dean Turner walks Brad through the practical framework that transformed his fitness, focusing on structured resistance training, strategic rest periods, and using machines to target muscle groups effectively. This isn't about becoming a bodybuilder; it's about main...

Most people in their twenties worry they're behind on their financial independence journey. Maggie is ahead of the game just by asking the question. Maggie, a listener in her twenties, wonders if she and her husband are on track for FI. Brad sits down with Doug and Carl from Mile High FI podcast to answer her questions by sharing their own financial journeys from their twenties through their forti...

Brian Feroldi knows something that most investors refuse to admit: nobody can predict what the market will do next—not economists, not gurus, not even your suddenly stock-curious mom. Fresh off the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs in January 2024, Feroldi returns to ChooseFI to unpack why relentless doomsayers missed the rally, why rising interest rates change the portfolio calculus, and how he sepa...

A system that dictates your success beats any goal you set. That's the wisdom buried in this community roundup of voicemails, where ChooseFI listeners share their most effective life hacks and hardest-won financial lessons. From sous vide machines that transform meal prep to photography gear that bridges the gap between parents and teenagers, these aren't your typical money tips. Instead, communit...

Phil's parents could have legally claimed half his estate—despite everyone getting along perfectly. That's the jarring reality Amy faced when her husband died without a will, exposing how intestate succession laws can override your wishes and burden your family during their darkest moments. Amy shares her experience following Phil's sudden passing in late 2021 and the shocking financial and legal...

Most retirement accounts lock your money until 59½ — unless you know the workarounds. Tax expert Sean Mulaney breaks down the full toolkit for accessing retirement funds before that arbitrary age, from taxable brokerage strategies to lesser-known rules like the 72(t) and Rule of 55. Bridging the gap between early retirement and traditional retirement age requires careful planning. Many in the FI c...

Dennis Shapiro worked at the Social Security Administration for 12 years, and his core message contradicts what most early retirees assume: you're probably working longer than necessary by ignoring your future benefits. Most people in the FI community either write off Social Security entirely or treat it as "bonus money" that might not exist when they retire. Shapiro dismantles both misconceptions...

Teresa's Social Security benefits increase by $1,200 for every additional year she works—but should she? Brad and Fritz team up with community member Teresa to map out her transition from financially independent to early retired, examining the real numbers behind Social Security timing, health insurance costs, and when the math says she can safely walk away from her day job. Teresa's journey from...

The "boring middle" isn't boring at all — it's the point where your finances finally stop demanding attention and you're forced to confront what you actually want from life. Jessica from the Fineears joins Brad to tackle this uncomfortable phase where many in the FI community feel stuck after the initial excitement fades and everything's on autopilot. The journey to financial independence often hi...

Most DIY investors miss a critical step when calculating their financial independence number—they forget to adjust for inflation twice. Wilson's question about coast FI calculations reveals a common blind spot: while many know historical stock returns average around 7% after inflation, they fail to inflate their future expenses accordingly, dramatically underestimating how much they'll actually ne...

Most people who discover Coast FI don't realize they've already been living it for years. Chris Hutchins joins Brad to explore how their thinking on financial independence has evolved beyond the strict formulas and retire-early dogma. They unpack the spectrum of FI—Coast FI, Lean FI, Fat FIRE—and why these labels matter less than understanding what you're running toward, not away from. The convers...

A simple conversation with college friends asking "Is this our life for the next 40 years?" completely changed Navish's financial trajectory. After discovering ChooseFI, he moved from inaction to automating $1,600 monthly into index funds, switching to higher-yield emergency accounts, and fundamentally restructuring how he and his wife approach money. His story illustrates the gradual shift from t...

Most people in the financial independence community know exactly what they should do — but they're not doing it. Stephen Boyer, creator of CampFI, frames the real question for hesitant attendees: "Ask yourself why you aren't already doing the things that you want to do." That gap between knowing and doing is precisely what in-person FI events are designed to close. Brad sits down with three event...

Most people think financial independence happens when you quit your job. Jamila Sufrad learned it's actually just the beginning. When she left her full-time career in 2018 after having her third child, she thought she had reached the finish line. Now, over five years later, she's back to share what she's discovered about the messy, evolving reality of FI — and why your first plan probably won't be...

ChooseFI Podcast Show Notes Episode Title: The Case Against Paying Off Your Mortgage Episode Summary: In this episode, Brad and Jonathan Mendonsa discuss financial decisions relevant to today's economy, particularly the implications of home ownership. They explore the potential benefits of maintaining a mortgage versus paying it off, especially in light of current high savings account interest rat...

Most budgeting advice targets financial extremes—the ultrawealthy seeking tax optimization or those drowning in crisis debt. The middle gets ignored. Tiffany Aliche, better known as the Budgetnista, built a career teaching that overlooked majority with her 10-step system for financial wholeness. Now she's distilled it into "Made Whole: The Practical Guide to Reaching Your Financial Goals," a workb...

Most people think frugality means eating ramen in a dark room to scrimp every penny. Jen and Jill from the Frugal Friends Podcast know it's actually a superpower — one that transformed Jen's $78,000 debt payoff and reshaped how both of them think about spending money. Frugality isn't deprivation; it's a lifestyle of resource management that balances saving for the future while enjoying life's mome...

Most people think financial independence is reserved for tech workers pulling six figures or inheritance recipients who started on third base. JL Collins, whose book The Simple Path to Wealth became the investing bible for a generation, just published Pathfinders to prove that wrong. The book chronicles ordinary people—teachers, nurses, single parents—who reached FI using the same straightforward...

When was the last time you made plans based on "wouldn't it be cool if..." rather than a detailed spreadsheet? Brad and Ginger return for their monthly roundup, covering listener questions on travel reward cards, investing strategies, and college planning. But beyond the tactical money talk, they explore something harder to optimize: how to build more spontaneity and connection into a life increas...

Most families think eighth grade is too early to worry about college costs. Chris Terrell, co-founder of Edison Prep, proves otherwise — and shows how early preparation can save tens of thousands of dollars. Preparation and knowledge are vital for minimizing college costs. Chris emphasizes being proactive as early as eighth grade, focusing on GPA and preparing for the SAT and ACT. Transparency in...

Most people chasing financial independence think hitting their number will finally bring peace—but what if the chase itself is another form of avoidance? Corey Mascara, former monk and host of the Practicing Human podcast, returns to challenge the FI community's blind spots. He introduces the concept of spiritual bypassing: using financial goals as a distraction from deeper emotional work. Rather...

What if fear isn't your enemy, but the very compass pointing toward your next breakthrough? Farnoosh Tarabi — host of So Money with nearly 1,600 episodes and author of A Healthy State of Panic — argues that fear signals our deepest values and drives better financial decisions when we learn to listen. She and Brad explore how confronting fears around money, rejection, and endings can unlock persona...

You can start building wealth at any age—but most people waste years waiting for "the perfect time" that never comes. In this mailbag episode, Brad Barrett teams up with Rachael Camp, a CFP who helps high earners and solopreneurs preserve wealth, to answer listener questions that cut through common financial roadblocks. Rachael brings clarity to confusing topics like the 4% rule, 529 plans, and te...

You just saved the equivalent of several months' salary through strategic salary negotiation — now what if that same framework could unlock every other area of your financial life? Hosts Dominick Quartuccio and Brad Barrett dissect three standout episodes, pulling out the common threads: Teresa's leap from food stamps to financial independence using Dave Ramsey's baby steps, the three W's framewor...