Retire earlier. Spend more. Live better. For most people, these sound like mutually exclusive goals—you can pick one, maybe two, but certainly not all three. Financial planner Aubrey Williams is here to prove that conventional wisdom wrong.

Joining BiggerPockets Money hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench, Aubrey introduces his revolutionary guardrails strategy that completely flips traditional retirement advice on its head. Instead of the rigid, fear-based approach that dominates most retirement planning, Aubrey's method shows you exactly how to create flexible spending rules that respond to real market conditions.

This isn't just another investment strategy—it's a complete mindset shift. Aubrey walks through the psychological barriers that keep retirees from actually enjoying their money, then provides the practical tools and historical evidence you need to overcome them. Get ready for a masterclass in turning retirement anxiety into genuine retirement confidence, backed by decades of market data and real-world application.

00:00 Rethinking Early Retirement

01:24 Adjusting Spending in Retirement

02:30 Myths of Financial Independence

04:48 Tools for Decumulation

11:18 Guardrails for Safe Withdrawal

24:23 The Risks of Underspending

29:15 Introducing Risk-Based Guardrails

29:27 Building a Sample Portfolio

30:16 Adjusting Spending Based on Portfolio Performance

32:07 Historical Analysis and Guardrails

54:41 Connect with Aubrey!

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Fear that early retirement is out of the question because you have too much debt? It's not game over. Whether you're debt-free or still chipping away at your student loans, today's guest is proof that FIRE is never too far out of reach—even when life throws you a curveball that leaves you with $90,000 in debt!

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Do you think you can't beat the market? David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool, joins the BiggerPockets Money podcast to shatter this limiting belief and reveal why stock picking can supercharge your wealth-building strategy alongside index fund investing.

Despite conventional wisdom warning against individual stock selection, Gardner exposes his proven approach to identifying winning stocks early and holding for long-term gains. This isn't about day trading - it's about building lasting wealth through strategic stock analysis and smart diversification.

This Episode Covers:

Whether you're a beginner investor or looking to refine your strategy, Gardner provides actionable insights on building real wealth through a combination of stock picking and index fund investing. Discover how to transform your investment approach and achieve financial independence faster.

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Are you worried you won't be able to retire at sixty-five? Feeling financially limited in your fifties and need a retirement plan so you can finally stop working? Well, we made this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast just for you. Today, Mindy and Scott are joined by experts Jackie Cummings Koski and Bill Yount from Catching Up to FI to teach you how to retire on time at age sixty-five (or even retire early!) if you're starting from zero with no money to your name.

We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow, focusing specifically on Barb - a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Her situation represents millions of people who find themselves starting over financially in their fifties, whether due to divorce, job loss, or simply never having started saving for retirement.

This Episode Covers:

How to maximize earning potential when reentering the workforce after years away

Emergency fund strategies when you're starting from scratch (and why it's different in your 50s)

The exact investment prioritization order for late-starter retirement savers

How to catch up on retirement savings using IRS catch-up contribution rules

Debt elimination strategies that won't derail your retirement timeline

Creative ways to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality of life

The psychology of starting over financially and maintaining motivation

And SO much more!

00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Financial Challenges at 50

05:44 Understanding the Emotional and Financial Starting Point

12:33 Setting Clear Financial Goals

14:33 Tracking and Measuring Finances

18:29 The Math Behind Early Retirement

20:03 Building the First $25,000

25:34 Side Hustles and Income Strategies

31:54 Downsizing and Financial Adjustments

39:02 House Hacking Strategy

50:17 Investment Strategies for Late Starters

01:04:11 Connect with Jackie & Bill

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On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast Mindy and Scott are joined by Beau Webb. Beau went from flying Blackhawk helicopters in the Army to achieving financial independence in his 30s through a diversified investment strategy that goes way beyond basic index funds. Beau built wealth through real estate, and savvy use of military benefits while still crushing it in traditional markets. But here's what makes his story even more powerful - he's living proof that you CAN retire early in just ten years if you save and invest strategically.

His approach blends real estate investing, the smart use of military benefits, and disciplined plays in traditional markets. The result? Multiple streams of income that comfortably cover his lifestyle — all without tapping his retirement accounts. Beau's story proves that you can reach FI in as little as ten years, not by living on rice and beans, but by leveraging creative financing, making intentional moves, and thinking bigger than conventional financial advice allows.

This Episode Covers:

And SO much more!

00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest

01:14 Military Background and Financial Beginnings

05:42 First Steps into Real Estate

07:52 House Hacking 

10:34 First Duplex Purchase

16:17 Expanding the Real Estate Portfolio

19:42 Diverse Investment Strategies

21:38 Seller Financing 

28:28 Expanding the Portfolio

31:49 Achieving Financial Independence

34:36 Life as a Full-Time Investor

37:47 Connect with Beau!

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What does it take to transform from a $27,000-a-year employee into an eight-figure entrepreneur? Hala Taha, founder of YAP Media, joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to reveal the mindset shifts, strategic decisions, and hard-won lessons that built her media empire.

This isn't just another success story – it's a masterclass in entrepreneurial thinking, strategic pivoting, and building scalable systems that generate massive wealth.

This Episode Covers:

And SO much more!

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Coast FI is a fascinating concept that's gaining traction in the financial independence community. And no, to Mindy's disappointment, it doesn't involve having enough money to live beachside (though the lifestyle can be just as relaxing). Unlike the extreme FIRE approach that dominates personal finance blogs—where you're told to save every penny, never eat out, and forget about vacations—Coast FI offers a more sustainable path to early retirement.

Enter Jessica and Corey from The Fioneers, who've proven this gentler approach actually works. When they discovered the FI movement, they were earning just $30,000 combined—hardly a six-figure head start. As their income grew, so did their savings rate, but Jessica quickly realized that climbing the corporate ladder came with a hidden cost. The stress became so overwhelming that she needed a six-month mental health break from work.

That break changed everything. Jessica never returned to traditional employment, instead building her own business. Today, she and Corey have achieved what they call "slow FI"—they're Coast FI with complete time autonomy, still enjoying travel and comfortable living, while on track to retire in their early 50s. They're living proof that financial independence doesn't require sacrificing your mental health, relationships, or joy along the way.

Their story challenges the narrative that you must choose between financial freedom and actually living your life. Sometimes, the scenic route gets you exactly where you need to go.

In This Episode We Cover

Coast FI explained and how it’s a far more enjoyable alternative to standard financial independence

Saving and investing even while making a below-median income salary 

Resisting lifestyle creep and how to use pay raises to increase your net worth

The danger of going “too fast to FI” and how retiring too early can be a detriment

Part-time jobs, side hustles, and other ways that you can make more apart from your W2

Spending money to “escape” and how quitting a stressful job could save you more money

And So Much More!

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Tired of the extreme saving grind? What if there was a way to front-load your retirement savings and then "coast" to financial independence without the stress? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down Coast FI - the strategy that lets you stop aggressive saving in your 30s while still retiring comfortably at 65.

Coast FI isn't about retiring early - it's about retiring the anxiety around retirement savings. Once you hit your Coast FI number, compound interest does the heavy lifting while you focus on living your life. This approach offers the perfect middle ground between traditional retirement planning and extreme FIRE strategies.

This Episode Will Cover:

And SO much more!

00:38 What is Coast FIRE

02:16 How to Achieve Coast FI

05:56 Calculate Your Coast FI Number

07:54 Coast Fire by Age

09:21 Passive Income and Coast Fire

19:52 Investment Strategies for Coast Fire

22:40 Investment Order of Operations

28:15 Connect with Scott and Mindy

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Join hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench as they sit down with Cody Garrett, a former musician turned financial planner who discovered the FIRE movement seven years ago and is now just four years away from achieving financial independence by age 40. Cody's unique dual perspective—as both someone actively pursuing FIRE and a professional helping others achieve it—makes this conversation particularly valuable for anyone on their own early retirement journey.

Cody shares the practical strategies, mindset shifts, and career decisions that accelerated his path to financial freedom. He breaks down his personal approach to portfolio management, explains how to avoid the lifestyle inflation trap, and discusses building multiple income streams through business ventures. Whether you're contemplating a career change, looking to optimize your FIRE timeline, or seeking guidance from someone who's walking the walk, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement immediately.

This Episode Covers:

And SO much more!

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In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by real estate expert J Scott to break down the mixed signals dominating today's economic landscape. Are we or we not heading into a recession?

They discuss what's really happening with GDP growth, consumer spending patterns, and the evolving nature of work itself. From the rise of gig economy jobs that complicate traditional employment metrics to the unprecedented challenges facing businesses nationwide, this deep-dive conversation reveals the nuances behind the economic data that directly impacts your financial decisions.

This Episode Covers:

And SO much more!

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