BiggerPockets Money

There’s no arguing that real estate and stocks are the two most proven ways to build wealth, but which one comes out on top in a race to FIRE? Stay tuned as we put these investment vehicles to the test and show you the fastest path to early retirement!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Mindy and guest co-host Amberly Grant are pitting real estate investing and stock investing against each other to determine which of these popular investments is most FIRE-friendly. The best part? They don’t exactly agree! First, Amberly will defend the position of real estate investing. From house hacking and live-in flips to out-of-state investing, there are several strategies you can use to create monthly cash flow, build wealth through appreciation, and save a fortune on taxes!

Meanwhile, Mindy will defend her time-tested stock investing strategy. Along the way, she’ll share the many advantages of passive investing, compare 60/40 and 90/10 stock-to-bond investment portfolios, and show you the ideal portfolio mix for those who plan to retire on the 4% rule. YOU decide which of our financially independent hosts has the strongest case!

In This Episode We Cover

Real estate versus stocks (and which will help you FIRE faster)

How YOU can “live for free” with the house hacking strategy

Saving hundreds of thousands in taxes with the live-in flip strategy

How to turn your rental properties passive by investing out of state

The perfect stock portfolio allocation for retiring on the 4% rule

And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-626

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You may not make six figures, but you want to achieve FIRE and retire early. You might be struggling to get by, let alone saving and investing to hit your FIRE number. If it seems impossible, you should take a page from Bryce Stewart’s book. He was a sixth-grade school teacher, making $44,000/year, underwater on his condo purchase, worrying about the bills with one baby and another one on the way. A decade later, he was retired, with more passive income than he could spend. Today, we’re sharing how he did it.

Your income is NOT the limiting factor to you achieving FIRE, no matter how much it seems that way. Bryce took a slow and sacrifice-heavy path to early retirement and now makes more than 300% of the combined income of his and his wife’s teacher salaries. He was frugal without a doubt, but focusing on income-generating opportunities is what really slingshotted his net worth, passive income, and FIRE timeline. 

So, what money move should you make RIGHT now to turn your median salary into investments that pay you passive income every month? What sacrifices should you be making to put your family in a FIRE financial position? What was the one purchase that launched Bryce’s path to FIRE? Whether you’re making under, over, or around six figures, you can retire earlier by taking Bryce’s advice. 

In This Episode We Cover

The one investment Bryce made that helped him get to FIRE in 10 years 

Building multiple income streams so you’re NOT reliant on your job 

Why house hacking (living for free) is the ULTIMATE FIRE super-charger 

Investments to make with a low/median income that will get you to FIRE faster

The #1 reason you should NOT tell your partner about your FIRE dreams…yet

And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-625

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Would you delay your early retirement for years to feel safer and secure once you FIRE? That’s what Mark Trautman did, FIRE-ing before discovering the FIRE movement was even a thing. While he could have retired in his 40s, Mark pushed his retirement date to 50, retiring with a conservative withdrawal schedule that even beats the 4% rule. But, thanks to being invested throughout his retirement, Mark has blown past even his Fat FIRE dreams, spending what he wants, when he wants, without a worry!

But it wasn’t the money that made Mark thankful for FIRE. Mark was able to be right next to his wife and even his father during their last days, being fully dedicated to them and not worrying about a job or paycheck he had to go after. This is the TRUE point of FIRE, and living like Mark could have the same powerful impact on you.

Speaking of paychecks, Mark’s “FI paychecks” are fueling his retirement, so much so that he barely (if ever) needs to withdraw from his retirement portfolio. How is this completely passive cash flow funding his life? Copy Mark’s strategy, and you could be Fat FIRE by 50, too!  

In This Episode We Cover

The “FI paychecks” you should set up once you’re near early retirement 

Why FIRE is about MORE than money; it’s about time with the ones you love 

Mark’s “Fun Bucket” for worry-free spending on life-changing experiences 

Why delaying your early retirement could help you FIRE without money anxiety 

The one inflation/market downturn hedge Mark uses that provides him with passive income 

Early retirement healthcare and how Mark pays for health insurance without employment 

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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How to Plan for Early Retirement NOW! | Life After FIRE w/Justin Peters

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How to Plan for Early Retirement NOW! | Life After FIRE w/Justin Peters

(00:00) Intro

(00:53) FIRE at 50!

(04:37) Scared to Withdraw for Retirement?

(07:59) Super Conservative FI Strategy

(12:34) The FI "Paycheck"

(13:25) Spending in Early Retirement

(15:14) Time Freedom to Care For His Wife

(21:42) The "Fun" Bucket

(25:24) Market Corrections Are GOOD!

(29:41) Add Treasuries to Your FIRE Portfolio?

(32:09) FIRE Healthcare

(34:46) The FIRE Lifestyle

(37:52) Connect with Mark!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-624

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Julie Rose “semi-retired” at just 36 years old with only $500K, trading her corporate job for sunrise safaris in Africa, beach walks in Bali, and mid-day hikes in Mexico. 

With “Barista FIRE,” you can retire with a lower FIRE number, still work (minimally) doing what you love, and have almost complete time freedom over your life. Why have FIRE when you can “semi-retire” decades earlier? Plus, your retirement nest egg will be growing in the background, all while you do what you want, when you want, with who you want. Sounds like a dream life, right? Well, you’re not far from it already!

After barely scraping by (even with a good job), Julie knew something needed to change, but she wasn’t ready for it. It wasn’t until she got laid off multiple times that she realized it was time to put her financial future in her own hands. This led her down the FIRE movement rabbit hole, getting almost addicted to saving and investing, and finding herself in a position to quit her job and do what she really loves: travel and get PAID to plan trips for others. 

Now, she’s Barista FIRE (FIRE with the help of a side hustle), living nomadically for a fraction of the cost of a basic life in the United States! 

In This Episode We Cover

“Barista FIRE” and the faster way to semi-retire early with a lower FIRE number

Why consumerism WON’T fulfill you, but it will make you broke

Using side hustles to supercharge your savings rate and investing goals 

Building your Barista FIRE income stream BEFORE you quit your job 

Early retirement healthcare and how Julie pays just $40/month for coverage

Living your best life abroad for a fraction of the cost of living in the States 

And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-623

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The stock market is shifting, and your portfolio needs to change NOW if you want to reach or stay FIRE (financial independence, retire early). Many early retirees are sitting anxiously, watching their net worth fall by 10% (or more), making each withdrawal from their portfolio increasingly risky. If you’re close to financial independence or are retired early already, you CANNOT risk losing the gains you’ve worked so hard for. This is what we’re doing NOW to keep our FIRE portfolios crash-resistant.

Last month, Scott talked about his big decision to sell off a chunk of his index fund portfolio in fears of overvalued stock prices. What followed? A significant stock sell-off, with some major indexes falling 10% already. Scott urges those close to FIRE to “lock in” their gains and avoid unnecessary risks to push their FIRE numbers higher.

So, what did Scott move his money into, and should you do the same? Should you switch to bonds for a safer but lower-return correction hedge? What happens if this stock downturn lasts years? Should someone in their 20s or 30s, just starting on the FIRE path, stop investing or double down? We’re answering all of your burning FIRE questions today! 

In This Episode We Cover

Why Amy uses a financial advisor to help manage her money in retirement

Amy’s journey to financial independence, losing her husband, and retiring early

Assets under management (AUM) versus fee-only advisors (and which one to hire!)

How to reach your FIRE number sooner through “experimental deprivation”

Why you need to have regular money check-ins with your significant other

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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BiggerPockets Real Estate 1,095 - Scott Trench: How I’m Protecting My Money From “Irrational Exuberance”

(00:00) Stock Market Update

(06:44) Close to FIRE? Do This

(14:41) Fix Your FIRE Portfolio

(17:20) Lock-In Your FIRE!

(19:02) Scott’s 2025 FIRE Portfolio

(21:30) Already Retired/FIRE?

(23:46) What About Taxes?

(28:49) What if This Crash Lasts?

(35:00) Start Shifting Toward Retirement

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-622

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Could hiring a financial advisor help you reach financial independence and retire early? This isn’t a popular move in the FIRE community, but it gave today’s guest peace of mind, preserved her wealth, and helped her save on taxes in retirement. Stick around to learn if it’s the right choice for you, too!

Welcome to another episode of “Life After FIRE”! Today, we’re chatting with Amy, who was dealt a set of circumstances that altered her life and retirement plans. Amy and her late husband, Phil, arrived at their FIRE number in 2020. Just as they were preparing for early retirement, Phil tragically passed, and Amy was left to not only navigate a new normal but also take control of her finances. Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Amy hired a financial advisor, which turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made.

In this episode, Amy shares how she used money check-ins and a year of “experimental deprivation” to speed up her path to retirement. She also discusses the pros and cons of using financial advisors, the differences between the assets-under-management and fee-only models, and how to properly vet an advisor to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth!

In This Episode We Cover

Why Amy uses a financial advisor to help manage her money in retirement

Amy’s journey to financial independence, losing her husband, and retiring early

Assets under management (AUM) versus fee-only advisors (and which one to hire!)

How to reach your FIRE number sooner through “experimental deprivation”

Why you need to have regular money check-ins with your significant other

And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-621

Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]

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Are we headed right for a recession, or are stocks on sale? We don’t own a crystal ball, but Ricky Mulvey from The Motley Fool is capitalizing on the recent stock market swing by loading up on some of his favorite equities. Stay tuned to find out if now is an ideal time for YOU to “stock up,” too!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In light of the recent market pullback, Ricky is going to share why he thinks it’s the right time to take advantage of low stock prices. He’ll discuss some of his best bargain buys, his biggest portfolio wins and losses in recent years, and, most importantly, the four-step approach you can use to identify stocks that could be set to soar in 2025.

If you’re a regular listener, you know that Scott and Mindy are partial to stashing their money in index funds, sitting back, and watching their wealth snowball over the long haul. You might say that Ricky has a slightly larger appetite for risk, as he isn’t opposed to picking stocks, timing the market, and getting out after three to five years. Stick around to find out if his strategy works!

In This Episode We Cover

Whether now is the time to buy stocks after the recent market pullback

Ricky’s four-step approach to finding value in the stock market

Using insider buying activity to find potential investing opportunities

How to prevent “tax drag” when buying and selling off stocks

Reviewing Ricky’s biggest portfolio wins and losses (Meta, Spotify, and more!)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

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BiggerNews: Real Estate vs. Stocks, the Ultimate Wealth-Building Debate

(00:00) Intro

(01:09) The Recent Pullback

(08:53) Hunting for Value

(18:55) Portfolio Wins & Losses

(24:58) Holding Periods & “Tax Drag”

(30:18) Why Costco Is “Safe”

(33:05) How to Pick Stocks

(38:50) Connect with Ricky!

(40:45) Do Your Research!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-620

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Is the 4% rule dead? Most FIRE-chasers are using this retirement rule completely wrong, and it could cost them their financial freedom. With stock prices falling and many Americans fearing another recession, now is the time to tighten up your retirement portfolio and ensure you can survive if stock prices correct or crash. If you get this wrong, you could delay your FIRE for years or have to go back to work mid-retirement.

The 4% rule is one of the most bulletproof retirement formulas. It’s simple: Build a portfolio from which you can comfortably withdraw 4% annually. Need $40,000 per year to live? Your FIRE number is $1,000,000. Need $100,000 per year? Then you’re looking at $2,500,000. This math has been checked, double-checked, and triple-checked to withstand even the greatest economic depressions. However, most people have their portfolio set up WRONG, and it could put them at significant risk.

So, how do you ENSURE you can retire (early) with the 4% rule? What hedges should you make in your portfolio so your wealth stays afloat even as the economic tide starts to turn? What are Scott and Mindy doing now to prepare for a rocky stock market? Don’t miss this one—it could cost you your FIRE!

In This Episode We Cover

The 4% rule explained and whether it still works in 2025 and during market downturns 

Why your FIRE portfolio is WRONG, and it could be at massive risk right now 

How to prepare for an economic downturn to ensure you stay FIREd or on the path to FIRE

What Scott is selling and buying right now to protect his wealth (will his strategy work?)

Alternatives to the 4% rule that will protect your retirement portfolio even during the greatest of depressions 

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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BiggerPockets Real Estate 1,095 - Scott Trench: How I'm Protecting My Money From “Irrational Exuberance”

BiggerPockets Money 120 - Are FIRE Naysayers Bad at Math? Yes. with Michael Kitces

The Rational Investor’s Case Against Bitcoin

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(00:00) Is the 4% Rule Dead?

(04:39) You CANNOT FIRE with This

(11:42) How to Prepare for Downturns

(21:12) Assets That Are At Risk

(23:17) What Scott’s Buying/Selling

(28:29) Alternatives to 4% Rule Portfolio

(34:21) Do You Trust the 4% Rule?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-619

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Think you’ve blown your chances of achieving FIRE? You haven’t! Just ask Nik Johnson, who spent years growing his nest egg, only to have it completely wiped out with one bad financial decision. Despite losing everything, he managed to rebuild it from ground zero and still retire early!

Welcome to another episode of “Life After FIRE”! Nik and his wife had done everything right. They practiced frugality, saved aggressively, and invested at every opportunity. But everything was turned on its head when Nik decided to empty his retirement accounts and open a car dealership. Within just one year, Nik’s company had gone belly up, and as a result, all the money he had worked so hard to save was gone. It seemed that he had missed his one shot at early retirement, but rather than giving up on that dream, he started over. If he could do it once, he could do it again!

So, Nik found a W2 job, picked up a second job to fast-track his savings, and started throwing all his money at retirement accounts and real estate investments, and now, he and his wife are recently retired! Stick around as Nik shows you how to avoid the middle-class trap, what life looks like after FIRE, and the importance of community once you retire!

In This Episode We Cover

How Nik built, lost, and rebuilt his investments and still achieved FIRE

Supercharging your investments by creating extra income streams

How not to find seed money for a risky entrepreneurial venture

The savvy financial moves Nik made to avoid the middle-class trap

What the average “day in the life” of an early retiree looks like

Why you need a strong community around you once you retire

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Buying at the Peak, Surviving a Crash, and STILL Being Able to Quit at 38

Connect with Carl

(00:00) Intro

(01:22) Growing His “Empire”

(08:58) Losing $150K!

(12:05) Rebuilding His Wealth

(16:48) Life After FIRE

(24:20) Nik’s Investment Portfolio

(28:34) Connect with Nik!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-618

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You’ve worked so hard to finally achieve FIRE (financial independence, retire early); the last thing you want is your wealth to dwindle or disappear entirely. Unknown to most FIRE-chasers, four financial “horsemen” (of the personal finance apocalypse) could steal your wealth right out from under you, without you even realizing it. What are the four horsemen, and how are we protecting our FIRE portfolios from them?

To make sure you not only become wealthy but stay wealthy, we brought Whitney Elkins-Hutten, author of Money for Tomorrow, on the show to share the best ways to keep your portfolio safe from the four horsemen. Whitney scaled her portfolio from almost nothing to life-changing wealth, and she could have lost it all if she hadn’t learned how to protect it.

Mindy and Scott tag-team to show YOU how to protect your FIRE from these four horsemen, including sharing what they’re doing right now to set themselves up for a successful (and safe) financial future. Don’t let your wealth get drained before OR during FIRE; take these tips to heart ASAP! 

In This Episode We Cover

The four “horsemen” that could destroy your FIRE lifestyle and disrupt your generational wealth

How Whitney went from accidental house flipper to financially-free investor 

The overlooked investing “fees” that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars

Why you’re (probably) paying too much money for insurance (and how to start saving)

When (and when not) to pay off debt and which balances to prioritize first

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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The Points Guy’s Travel Hacking Tips to Fly for FREE in 2025

Connect with Whitney

(00:00) Intro

(06:00) "Ownership" Makes You Rich

(10:09) Aggressively Investing in Rentals

(11:52) This Could Destroy Your Wealth

(19:07) Which Debt to Pay Off

(23:14) Save Thousands on Insurance

(30:23) This Could Delay Your FIRE

(37:08) STOP Being Scared of Taxes!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-617

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