ChooseFI | Financial Independence Podcast

Court achieved financial independence and promptly did something most FI purists would call reckless: she moved into a bigger house, kept her townhouse as a rental, and cut her hours in half — all while pregnant. Two years later, she's living proof that the most rigid interpretation of the 4% rule might be missing the point entirely. After hitting her FI number, Court leveraged Canada's generous p...

Financial independence felt impossible at 23 with no savings, no plan, and a dead-end job — until Katie Gaddy stumbled onto ChooseFI and realized wealth-building is just math, not magic. Katie, host of Money with Katie (acquired by Morning Brew this year), started her FI journey in 2018 on a modest income. She reflects on her early realization that despite working full-time, she had no financial p...

Your financial accounts are only as secure as your weakest password — and most people reuse the same three. Tom, a cybersecurity expert and former federal law enforcement officer, shares practical strategies for protecting your online financial life. This episode covers essential security fundamentals: switching from passwords to passphrases, implementing password managers, enabling two-factor aut...

Negotiate your salary like everything depends on it — because your lifetime earnings actually do. In this conversation, orthopedic surgeon Bo Loy shares how he's built wealth not by depriving himself, but by questioning every financial decision and prioritizing experiences over possessions. Brad Barrett and Bo explore the "valuist" philosophy, the mechanics of automating your financial life, and w...

When $575,000 in student loans became a choice rather than a prison sentence, dentist Samantha realized she'd cracked a code most borrowers never see. Samantha, known as The Debtist, has slashed her debt significantly while simultaneously traveling, leaving toxic work environments, and building a coaching business—all without the traditional "suffer now, live later" approach. After navigating vari...

After two battles with acute myeloid leukemia—and facing a grim 5% survival rate—Boyd Dunleavy discovered that the financial foundation he'd quietly built for decades would determine whether his family weathered the crisis or crumbled under it. Boyd, a long-time ChooseFI listener and community member, is now a two-time blood cancer survivor and 10-time marathon finisher who shares how resilience,...

Lynn Mettler's family has taken over 30 trips using points and miles—most costing less than $100 out of pocket. In this refresher, she walks through the 2022 landscape for travel hacking, from signup bonuses that dwarf everyday spending rewards to the Southwest Companion Pass that cuts flight costs in half. Key Topics: Smart Credit Card Habits & Signup Bonuses [00:04:45] Signup bonuses often deliv...

Nearly six years of podcasting doesn't just end — it evolves into something new. As Jonathan Mendonsa prepares to step back from hosting ChooseFI, he and Brad Barrett use this episode to reflect on the journey that helped shape the modern financial independence movement. Rather than a retrospective, this becomes a blueprint for anyone still finding their path to FI. The conversation cuts to the co...

Over 3 million borrowers may qualify for immediate student loan forgiveness—but most don't know it, and the clock is ticking on a rare eligibility window. Travis Hornsby, a student loan planner, returns to explain two temporary federal waivers that could erase balances for public service workers and long-term borrowers who take action before the October 31 deadline. The Public Service Loan Forgive...

A hospice doctor treating terminal patients doesn't expect to learn the most important financial lesson of his life from someone on their deathbed. Jordan Grumet did—and it changed how he thinks about money, time, and living intentionally. In this conversation, Jordan shares stories from his new book Taking Stock, including the profound case of Sam, a patient whose final months forced Jordan to co...

Most people think financial statements are just for accountants and Wall Street analysts. They're wrong. If you work in a corporation, run a business, manage your own investments, or care about your personal balance sheet, this fundamental skill separates those who advance from those who plateau. Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett sit down with Brian Quartuccio to demystify the three core financia...

Most 18-year-olds discover financial independence content and do nothing with it. Zach graduated college with zero debt and a Salesforce job before most of his peers finished their sophomore year. Four years ago, Zach stumbled on the ChooseFI podcast and actually implemented what he learned—from maximizing dual enrollment credits to aggressively saving in a Roth IRA while his friends burned throug...

Interest rates have jumped from 3% to 6% in the span of months — and suddenly, every real estate investor is wondering if the game has changed. Coach Carson, a seasoned investor with over 100 rental properties, says the fundamentals haven't shifted — but your strategy might need to. Rising interest rates, stubbornly high home prices, and shrinking inventory create a challenging environment for bot...

You can complete a legitimate bachelor's degree for under $2,000 — no catch, no diploma mill. Jerry Born walked his son Bruce through a system that uses CLEP exams and ACE-approved online courses to knock out credit requirements in months, not years. The catch? You have to do the research yourself and understand which universities will accept the credits. Jerry returns to break down the mechanics...

Most people work tirelessly for money, but what if you're trading the one thing you can never get back? Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett break down why time—not wealth—is your most valuable asset, and how strategic financial decisions can help you reclaim it. [00:00:00] Introduction and Theme of the Episode Time as a luxury and its role in financial independence. [00:01:00] Discussion of Financi...

Most people treat math as something they left behind in high school — but the ability to estimate 10% or understand compounding is the difference between making wealth-building decisions and leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Poker strategies, amusement park tips, and understanding financial principles can significantly improve decision-making and overall financial literacy. An emphasis on...

Most people cling to careers they've outgrown because they fear what comes next — but what if you could test-drive your dream life without burning everything down? Jessica, who previously appeared on episode 229, has spent the past two years doing exactly that. She quit her job to launch a coaching business, and now she and her husband Corey are planning a three-week road trip through Maritime Can...

Most financial advice assumes the best-case scenario — stable income, predictable markets, life going according to plan. In 2022, as inflation spiked, interest rates doubled, and crypto platforms imploded, Brad and Jonathan ask a different question: What if you planned for the worst instead? Brad and Jonathan dissect what it means to truly afford a house when rates and job security can shift overn...

ChooseFI Podcast Show Notes: Common Sense Spending Guidelines for Housing in Uncertain Times Episode Summary: In this episode, Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett discuss effective strategies for managing housing costs while pursuing financial independence. The conversation emphasizes practical advice on mortgage payments, understanding interest rates, and avoiding unnecessary fees. The hosts share...

Every financial decision you make is either opening doors or closing them—and most people don't realize which until it's too late. Brad and Jonathan break down optionality as the core principle behind better money choices, from everyday purchases to protecting yourself against scams. The episode starts with a simple truth: wait 72 hours before buying something you suddenly want, and watch half tho...

Bradley and Anita both doubled their salaries by breaking into Salesforce—an industry neither had prior experience in. Their stories reveal how financial independence principles create the breathing room to make bold career pivots, and why soft skills matter more than credentials when you're starting from scratch. Whether you're stuck in a career you've outgrown or wondering how to capitalize on y...

Most people think their savings rate determines their financial future. But Warren Buffett argues something entirely different: your ability to earn more is the real weapon against inflation. When Brad and Jonathan dig into why your career trajectory matters more than your investment returns in the early years, they reveal a simple truth most people ignore—you can't cut your way to wealth, but you...

A 50% savings rate might solve most financial challenges, but what happens when inflation erodes your purchasing power faster than you can save? Brad and Jonathan tackle the reality of planning for financial independence when both stocks and bonds are down, exploring how to maintain progress when traditional strategies feel uncertain. The conversation centers on glide paths—adjusting your financia...

Most people accept the 4% rule as gospel—withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio each year and your money will last. But what happens when markets crash, healthcare costs spike, or you live longer than expected? Sean Mullaney reveals four hidden safety nets that make the 4% rule far more resilient than you think. The 4% rule suggests accumulating 25 times your annual expenses, then withdrawing 4%...

Your current income doesn't determine whether you can retire—your savings rate does. If you're spending every dollar you earn, retirement is impossible no matter how much you make. Brad and Jonathan break down the single most important metric on the path to financial independence: how to calculate it, why it matters more than your salary, and how to adjust it for taxes, employer matches, and debt....