BiggerPockets Money

Travel hacking allows you to fly and travel for free, often in luxury, without spending tens of thousands of dollars on flights or hotels. So, how do you do it without managing thirty different credit cards in your wallet? Brian Kelly, AKA The Points Guy, world-renowned travel hacking expert and author of the new book How to Win at Travel, is here to show you as we rapid-fire our top credit card rewards questions at him.

In this show, you’ll learn how to fly to Europe, Asia, and beyond for FREE, even in business class, all by spending the same amount of money you typically would every month. These cards can turn your weekly grocery run into free flights, hotel stays, cashback, and more, plus give you huge perks like airport lounge access, travel protection, and even a credit to spend on your next trip. Love free money? This is how you get it.

Plus, we’re asking The Points Guy what cards he has in HIS wallet, what he spends on which card, and why he does NOT recommend staying loyal to a specific airline, even if you travel often. These tips alone could save you thousands of dollars this year while turning your economy seat into a lie-flat first-class experience. Don’t let your money go to waste; start travel hacking!

In This Episode We Cover

How to travel for free by spending money on groceries, eating out, and business expenses

The Points Guy’s three favorite credit cards that everyone should keep in their wallet

Why you (probably) shouldn’t stay loyal to a specific airline, even if you have their credit card

Why Chase points can get you even MORE free travel than American Express points

Evaluating annual credit card fees and whether a $300+/year credit card is worth it

Best credit cards for renters and those who live a frugal lifestyle (but still want to travel!)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

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How to Earn Free Vacations With Travel Rewards Credit Cards

(00:00) Intro

(01:39) Travel for FREE!

(06:06) Best Credit Cards for Beginners

(13:48) Annual Fees

(17:56) Brian’s Favorite Credit Cards

(20:51) Airline and Hotel Partner Cards

(27:49) Keeping Track of Cards

(29:34) Best First Card?

(31:21) Cards for Low-Spenders

(34:03) Inheriting Points?

(36:52) WIN at Travel!

(39:01) Get Your Points!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-606

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Does the four-percent rule actually work? On paper, yes. So why don’t more people put it to the test? Today’s guest retired at forty-seven years old and is living proof that the math really does check out. Stay tuned to find out how!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Bobby Beck has done what so many in the FIRE community are seemingly unable to do—he actually retired on the four-percent rule! What’s more? He did it while living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive markets in the US. What gave him the confidence to leave his job and never look back? While “One More Year Syndrome” keeps many people from retiring early, Bobby’s mantra of “take a year” compelled him to take a leap of faith. Even though his retirement portfolio took a sixteen-percent hit right before he retired, he weathered the storm, and sure enough, the market rebounded!

Now, Bobby lives the life people dream of when they discover FIRE. He has a comfy lifestyle, travels multiple times a year, and only checks his portfolio once a month. If you need the motivation to call time on your career and put your retirement date on the calendar, you don’t want to miss this episode!

In This Episode We Cover

How Bobby and his wife retired on the four-percent rule (at age 47!)

Why the FIRE community overestimates how much they’ll owe in taxes

How to beat “One More Year Syndrome” and actually retire early

Growing your brokerage accounts and cash to avoid the middle-class trap

The portfolio allocation that will give you the confidence to retire

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

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How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)

(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Retired at 47!

(05:49) Bobby’s Portfolio

(08:35) Real Estate Investments

(17:05) Withdrawals & Tax Strategies

(26:45) 100% Stock Portfolio

(34:36) What Does Your Life Cost?

(39:47) The 4% Rule Works!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-605

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Do we focus too much on just one type of wealth? What if the key to a happy life isn’t retiring early, ascending the corporate ladder, or having more money than you know what to do with? Serial entrepreneur Sahil Bloom spent years chasing money, only to find that it didn’t provide happiness—it robbed him of it. Find yourself in the same boat? This episode is for you!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Sahil joins the show to discuss the core concepts from his latest book, The 5 Types of Wealth. Many FIRE-focused folks believe that financial wealth unlocks time, social, mental, and physical wealth, but Sahil is living proof that this isn’t the case. In this episode, he shares about his own journey from financial illiteracy to financial independence, the different levers he pulled along the way, and how he was able to dig himself out of a rut that was slowly destroying his life.

Whether you’re stuck on the happiness hamster wheel, burned out at your nine-to-five job, or lacking in any area beyond money, you’re not alone! Sahil will show you the “x factor” that leads to financial freedom, the best and most scalable side hustles to start, and how to transition from your W2 to entrepreneurship!

In This Episode We Cover

The five types of wealth explained (and why you shouldn’t focus on just one!)

The “x factor” that catapults you from a decent living to financial freedom

Why increasing your income is more important than controlling your expenses

The number one thing the FIRE community gets wrong about building wealth

How anyone can start (and scale) their own online business in 2025

Steps every person must take to lay a strong financial foundation

The “safety net” you need when moving from stable W2 income to entrepreneurship

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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The 5 Types of Wealth 

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How to Build, Grow, Scale, & SELL Your Online Business

(00:00) Intro

(01:02) Sahil’s Money Journey

(03:18) Building a Financial Foundation

(13:29) Leaving the Fund & Moving Home

(21:43) The “Scalability” of the Internet

(28:09) Structuring His Company

(33:18) The 3 Pillars of Financial Wealth

(39:09) Riding Out the Market

(43:40) The 5 Types of Wealth

(46:08) Connect with Sahil!

(47:03) Build “Well-Rounded” Wealth!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-604

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How can you use your retirement accounts to reach FIRE faster? We’ve talked a lot about the “middle-class trap”—having too much of your net worth trapped in your retirement accounts and home equity—and we may have the secret weapon to help you escape it. Not only that, this strategy allows you to keep more of what you earn, take control of your investments, and build a (relatively) passive real estate portfolio while you get closer and closer to FIRE.

Of course, we’re talking about self-directed IRAs and Kaaren Hall’s new book, Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide (use code “SDIRA10” for 10% off)! 

Never heard of them? Self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) are retirement accounts that give you more control over what you invest in. So, instead of just stocks and bonds, you can use your retirement funds to buy rental properties, become a passive private money lender, and invest in real estate syndications. These investments can often get higher returns than stock market averages, helping you reach your retirement goals faster!

So, how do you use it to escape the middle-class trap? Today, Kaaren shares some of the often overlooked strategies to withdraw early from your self-directed IRA so you can FIRE in your forties or fifties instead of waiting until your sixties!

In This Episode We Cover

Self-directed IRAs explained, plus why they’re a “secret weapon” for retirement

Self-directed IRAs vs. traditional IRAs and what you can invest in with each

Escaping the “middle-class trap” with early withdrawal strategies for retirement accounts

Completely passive real estate investments you can put inside your self-directed IRA

How to turn your old employer-sponsored retirement account into a self-directed IRA

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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(00:00) Intro

(01:23) Self-Directed IRAs Explained

(05:49) Buy Real Estate with Retirement Accounts!

(10:37) Opening a Self-Directed IRA

(13:55) Escaping the Middle-Class Trap

(17:41) Real Estate IRA Rules

(20:52) Best Alternative Investments

(23:56) 401(k) vs. IRA and Minimum Distributions

(27:57) Withdraw from Your IRA for FIRE!

(34:49) Self-Directed HSAs! (Timestamp)

(36:59) When to Use a Self-Directed IRA

(41:48) 403(b)s and TSPs

(43:20) BIG Changes!

(48:20) Grab the Book!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-603

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Buying a house, maxing out your 401(k), and leveraging real estate can help you achieve financial independence. But suppose your goal is to retire early. Could relying too heavily on these principles actually delay early retirement? Today, we’re going to show you how to break free from the “middle-class trap” that stops so many from retiring early! 

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Is most of your net worth “stuck” in home equity and retirement accounts? This is a widespread issue in the FIRE community. On one hand, you could sell your home or refinance your mortgage to tap into your equity, but interest rates are too high! Meanwhile, you can’t withdraw money from your 401(k)—not without incurring severe penalties. In theory, you could already be a millionaire but have little to no cash flow to fuel your retirement. So, what should you do?

In this episode, you’re going to learn all about the middle-class trap, how to avoid it, and, if you’re in it, how to get out! Mindy and Scott will share the “ideal” portfolio for an early retiree and the bridge accounts you need to retire today. Finally, is the FIRE community wrong about the 100% index fund portfolio? Stay tuned to find out!

In This Episode We Cover

The middle-class trap explained and how to avoid (or escape) it

The “ideal” investment portfolio for the early retiree

Tweaking your asset allocation to achieve financial freedom

The power of owning a paid-off rental property in retirement

Bridge accounts and investments that will allow you to retire today

Why a 100% index fund portfolio could come back to bite you

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Find Investor-Friendly Lenders

BiggerPockets Money 554 - Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Invest? (We Did the Math)

(00:00) Intro

(00:42) What Is the Middle-Class Trap?

(03:42) The “Ideal” Retirement Portfolio

(10:31) Scott’s Path to Financial Freedom

(16:13) Mindy’s Early Retirement Roadmap

(24:12) The Power of Paid-Off Property

(29:18) Middle-Class Trap “Timeline”

(33:55) Share YOUR Portfolio!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-602

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Why do so many in early retirement struggle with happiness? We know you’ve told yourself, “Once I hit FIRE, I’ll be living the dream! Every day will be like a vacation.” This is what Mindy was telling herself for years before becoming financially independent, and once she hit her goal, she realized life’s same problems still exist. If you’re FI already, this may sound familiar. So, how do you enjoy the path to early retirement so that when you reach your financial goal, the party doesn’t stop?

Jordan Grumet, AKA Doc G, practiced full-time medicine for years but wasn’t completely satisfied, even with financial success. After reflecting on his “purpose,” he found that hospice medicine brought him true fulfillment. Through conversations with patients on their deathbeds, Jordan uncovered a common thread: most regrets stemmed from not living a purposeful life, regardless of financial achievement.

In his new book, The Purpose Code, Jordan walks you through exercises that uncover your view on purpose, success, financial freedom, and what it means to truly “win” in life. His goal? Make sure you enjoy every day on the path to financial freedom so that when you get there, you know exactly how to live the life you love. If you want to reach FIRE happy, less stressed, and full of energy to live your early retirement life, we’ve got what the doctor ordered.

In This Episode We Cover

Why even the wealthiest people in the world are still so unhappy (and what they’re missing)

Why money is NOT the only tool you can use to find lifelong happiness 

The four “anchors” you can use to find your life’s purpose before it’s too late

How to enjoy the path to financial freedom without burning out or pushing through unhappiness

The number one thing in life that leads to humans being happy (it’s completely free)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Buy “The Purpose Code”

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

The “Deathbed Toolkit” That Makes Building Wealth Much More Enjoyable w/Doc G

(00:00) Intro

(04:39) The Comparison Trap

(06:38) You're Getting "Purpose" Wrong

(10:16) How to Start Enjoying Life

(14:07) The Reason So Many Aren't Happy

(23:30) The Huge Impact of "Little" Purpose

(29:10) Purpose Exercises

(30:52) Finding Your Community

(33:54) Connect with Jordan!

(34:27) Find Purpose BEFORE FI!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-601

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Are you building wealth but feel like you can never enjoy it? Do you struggle with money, fearing you carry the same poor financial habits as your parents? Whether you’ve got a lot of money or a little, many of us face the same mental financial challenges—anxiety, shame, and stress—but it doesn’t have to stay this way.

Today’s guest is living proof that change is possible. After completely turning his financial life around, from maxed-out credit cards, a rock-bottom credit score, repossessions, and empty bank accounts, to achieving financial success, he now teaches others how to do the same.

Steven Hughes, a money therapist, focuses on uncovering the financial beliefs shaped during childhood. Steven recognized that the negative money mindset affecting him in his youth also impacted countless others. To address this, he founded the non-profit “Know Money” to help people cultivate a stress-free, anxiety-free, and guilt-free perspective on money, empowering them to achieve true wealth—both mentally and financially.

Do you feel like, even though you’ve got money, you’re constantly worrying or unable to keep a cent in your bank account? Steven provides practical tools to help you finally break free from an unhealthy money mindset.

In This Episode We Cover

How to find the “root” of your money fears and address it once identified

Why some people with extraordinary incomes struggle to save money

Healthy vs. unhealthy financial emotions and ways to stop feeling guilty about success

Tools to manage your emotions around money so you can truly enjoy your wealth

The “family fund” that empowers you to give generously without being taken advantage of

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Grab Your Copy of “The Richest Man in Babylon (BiggerPockets Edition)"

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How to Use Your Financial Fears to Build Wealth Better

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) 7 Maxed Out Credit Cards?!

(05:56) Teaching Others to Avoid His Mistakes

(07:34) Identifying Your Money "Root"

(10:08) Getting Out of Debt

(11:55) Financial Therapy

(16:28) Mental Money Challenges

(18:53) Healthy vs. Unhealthy Money Emotions

(22:24) What to Do AFTER FIRE

(25:46) Tools to Manage Money Emotions

(32:34) Family Asking for Money?

(38:34) Connect with Steven!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-600

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Is it a good time to invest in real estate? Yes, and we have proof that real estate may be underpriced, even as we hover around the most expensive average home prices in history. How can real estate be undervalued when prices are at historic highs? Dave is sitting down with Scott Trench, CEO of BiggerPockets, who has condensed ten hours' worth of research into one episode to prove to you that, without a doubt, real estate will be winning over the next few years. Plus, he’s about to make a BIG financial bet on it.

We’ve been talking a lot about entering the “upside” era recently—the new cycle of real estate investing—and wanted Scott’s take on it, too. He has invested in real estate for over a decade, reached financial independence through rental properties, and has been openly critical about multiple sectors of the real estate industry over the past few years.

Today, Scott makes a compelling case for real estate as a better investment than stocks, crypto, or gold. Some specific real estate niches could see prices drop even more, making 2025 (and 2026) phenomenal opportunities to buy. Make your choice: tune into this episode and build wealth while others sit on the sidelines or wish you had done so in a few years.

In This Episode We Cover

Why residential real estate may actually be undervalued in 2025 

One sector of real estate with enormous buying opportunities nobody is noticing

Scott’s MASSIVE real estate bet and why he’s selling much of his stock portfolio

Where interest rates will be in 2025 and whether they could rise even more

Rental housing demand and the almost irrefutable case that rent prices will rise

Why Scott believes Bitcoin will be going to $0 in the long term

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Rent Growth

Treasury Yields

Real Median Household Income

Median Sales Price of Houses

S&P 500 Ten-Year Returns vs. S&P 500 P/E

Connect with Dave

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-599

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From over $300,000 in debt to a millionaire in just eight years?! No matter where you’re at, it’s never too late to get on the path to financial freedom. This entrepreneur is proof that a little discipline, frugality, and creativity can radically change your financial trajectory!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, we’re speaking with Bernadette Joy, founder of Crush Your Money Goals. In 2016, Bernadette had dug herself a six-figure hole—a combination of student loans, credit cards, and mortgages—simply by listening to bad money advice. But in just THREE years, she paid off all of her debt and has since built a net worth of $1.8 million! How did she create such an enormous swing in less than a decade? In this episode, she’ll show you the exact steps she took so that YOU can do the same!

Want to accelerate your journey to FIRE? Bernadette has all kinds of budgeting tips, debt paydown strategies, and side hustles that will help you reach your financial goals much faster. Stay tuned to learn how to wipe out your debt as quickly as possible, save for retirement, and even make an extra $100 a day alongside your nine-to-five job!

In This Episode We Cover

How Bernadette paid off $300,000 in debt in just THREE years

Making an extra $100 a day with side hustles (while working a W2 job)

The three-bucket, zero-based budget that balances frugality and freedom

Using the “snowball” method to pay off student loan debt faster

Whether you should keep a large cash position (or invest it!)

How to manage financial anxiety on the road to financial independence

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Email Mindy: [email protected]

Email Scott: [email protected]

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BiggerPockets Money 586 – Average Net Worth by Age (How Do You Compare?)

Connect with Bernadette

(00:00) Intro

(00:59) Getting Into $300K of Debt

(04:52) The Zero-Based Budget

(14:00) Starting Side Hustles

(18:33) Making an Extra $100/Day

(24:44) Bernadette’s Portfolio

(37:47) Connect with Bernadette!

(39:16) Crush Your Money Goals!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-598

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“Do I have enough to retire?” is a question most people in the FIRE community grapple with, but today, we’re sharing a FREE tool that will help you put this issue to bed! If you’re concerned about running out of money later in life or developing “One More Year Syndrome,” you won’t want to miss this episode!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Software engineer Lauren Boland has developed a FIRE calculator that predicts whether your nest egg will be able to support you in retirement. This powerful tool takes dozens of key data points—such as your financial independence number, retirement age, annual expenses, portfolio mix, and historical returns—to simulate multiple retirement scenarios. In this episode, Lauren, Scott, and Mindy are going to walk you through this powerful tool, step-by-step!

Does the four-percent rule still work in 2025? How much do you really need to save for retirement? Whether you’re just starting your quest for FIRE or looking to tweak your investment portfolio as you approach retirement, cFIREsim will show you where you stand and what you might need to adjust to meet your retirement goals!

In This Episode We Cover

A step-by-step walkthrough of Lauren’s FREE cFIREsim tool

How much money you actually need to retire early

Reverse-engineering your financial independence number

Whether you can still retire on the four-percent rule in 2025

How to ensure that your money not only lasts but also grows in retirement

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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Email Mindy: [email protected]

Email Scott: [email protected]

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cFIREsim Tool

Lauren’s Bluesky

Social Security Administration

Get to FIRE Faster with Scott’s Book “Set for Life”

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-597

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