Trevor and his wife reached a $1 million net worth by age 32 and are on track to achieve financial independence well before 40. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench chat with Trevor about his unconventional journey involving strategic career moves, real estate investments, and leveraging corporate benefits. Learn how Trevor went from a $1,000 net worth after college to $1 million through smart financial decisions and opportunities. Trevor shares his experiences, challenges, and the importance of financial flexibility in achieving Coast Fire in his 30s.

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The 4% rule has a major flaw: it doesn't account for healthcare costs. If you're planning to retire early, health insurance premiums will rise sharply as you age—from your 30s through your 60s before Medicare kicks in at 65. This isn't speculation; it's how the U.S. healthcare system works under the ACA.

On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down why early retirees need a bigger financial buffer than traditional FIRE calculations suggest. Learn the real cost of healthcare in early retirement, strategies to reduce expenses (geographical arbitrage, health shares, catastrophic coverage), why you can't rely on ACA subsidies long-term, and how to build a healthcare plan that won't derail your path to financial independence.

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Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources

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Are you on track to achieve financial independence? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench outline the essential financial milestones for your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Learn the net worth benchmarks and financial habits that will set you up for a successful journey to financial freedom in EVERY decade. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, this comprehensive guide will help you plan and achieve your financial goals. 

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Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources

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Should you retire the second you hit financial independence, or is there value in working just a little longer? Steven faced this exact decision at 40 and chose to work four more years. The result? He added $1 million to his net worth and entered retirement at 44 with $3.5 million and a bulletproof plan.

In this conversation, Steven shares his complete early retirement strategy, including why he delayed retirement past his FI number, how those extra years set him up for flexible spending of $120K-$180K annually, and the specific withdrawal tactics he uses to optimize taxes and health insurance subsidies.

This Episode Covers:

Steven's story proves that "one more year syndrome" isn't always fear-based procrastination—sometimes it's strategic planning that pays off big. Whether you're close to your FI number or just beginning your journey, his practical approach offers a roadmap for retiring early with confidence.

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Want to reach financial independence faster? The quickest path isn't extreme frugality—it's earning more. And that starts with salary negotiation.

Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to break down exactly how to negotiate your salary, whether you're asking for a raise, negotiating a job offer, or realizing you're chronically underpaid.

Paula shares her personal negotiation journey, the strategies that worked (and what didn't), and the mindset shifts that helped her confidently ask for more.

This Episode Covers:

Whether you're early in your career, a seasoned professional, or someone who's never negotiated before, Paula's practical advice will help you earn more and reach financial independence faster. Every successful negotiation adds years of compounding returns to your FIRE timeline.

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Connect with Paula Pant:

Website: https://affordanything.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulapant

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Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/

Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/

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You've hit financial independence—now what? How do you actually start spending the money you've spent years accumulating? Bill Yount reached FI at 60 after a 10-year journey, and he's figured out the answer.

Bill shares his complete decumulation strategy—the detailed plan he built with a flat-fee financial advisor to transition from wealth building to wealth preservation. This isn't just theory; Bill is actively living this plan and stress-testing it in real time.

This Episode Covers:

If you're approaching FI, already there and uncertain about spending, or starting your FIRE journey later in life, Bill's practical, well-planned approach shows you exactly how to transition from building wealth to confidently living off it.

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Connect with Bill Yount: 

Website: https://catchinguptofi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catchinguptofi/

Connect with Scott and Mindy:

Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/

Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/

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You're in your 50s, $50,000 in debt, and retirement at 65 feels impossible. We made this episode for you. Today, Mindy and Scott spell out the exact step-by-step plan to go from $50K in debt to a million-dollar retirement—even if you're starting over in your fifties.

Meet Nancy: a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with significant debt and zero savings. Her story represents millions of people starting over financially in their fifties due to divorce, job loss, or never having saved for retirement. But Nancy's situation isn't hopeless—and neither is yours.

This Episode Covers:

Don't give up on retirement—let's show you how to catch up!

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Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarchmoney.com/

Connect with Scott and Mindy:

Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/

Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/

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What if you didn't have to save 70% of your income to retire early? What if you could hit a number in your 30s, ease off the gas, and still reach financial independence—without sacrificing your present life? That's Coast FIRE, and today's guest Andy Hill is the perfect example of how it works in real life.

Andy hit his Coast FIRE number in his late thirties, left his corporate job at 40, and now runs a successful part-time business that supports his family of four while giving him total control over his time. In this conversation, Andy breaks down his journey from W2 employee to entrepreneur, the specific Coast FIRE calculations that gave him confidence to leave, and how he built a business that prioritizes family first, income second.

This Episode Covers:

What Coast FIRE actually is and how it's different from traditional FIRE

Andy's path from corporate employee to hitting his Coast FIRE number in his late 30s

How Andy built the confidence to leave his W2 job at 40

Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur while supporting a family of four

Building a part-time business that generates enough income without the corporate grind

How Coast FIRE allows you to prioritize family and lifestyle now (not just in retirement)

Key lessons from Andy's book 'Own Your Time'

How to structure your life around what matters most

If traditional FIRE feels too extreme or you're tired of delaying life for decades, Coast FIRE might be the strategy you've been looking for. Andy's story proves you can have financial independence AND a life you love today.

Connect with Andy Hill:

Social: https://www.instagram.com/marriagekidsandmoney

Website: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/

Pre-Order ‘Own Your Time’ Now: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book/

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What if you're doing FIRE in the wrong order? Most people chasing financial independence are following steps that actually slow them down—and it could be costing you years of freedom. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the exact step by step order for achieving FIRE as fast as possible.

Whether you're just starting with your first emergency fund or you're already maxing out retirement accounts and wondering what's next, this episode gives you the complete roadmap. You'll learn which financial moves to prioritize, which to skip, and how to avoid the "middle-class trap" that kills most early retirement dreams before they happen.

This Episode Covers:

If you're confused about what to do next on your FIRE journey, this is your complete checklist. No more guessing—just the fastest, most efficient path to financial independence.

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AI is revolutionizing how we build wealth and achieve financial independence. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down exactly how to use AI tools to accelerate your path to FI—from automating budgets and analyzing investments to generating income streams and optimizing your financial strategy. Discover which AI tools actually work for personal finance, how AI is changing job markets and earning potential, and practical ways to leverage this technology today. Whether you're new to AI or already experimenting, learn how to use artificial intelligence as your secret weapon for reaching financial freedom faster.

This Episode Covers:

How AI tools can accelerate your path to financial independence

Practical AI applications for budgeting and personal finance management

Using AI for investment research and strategy development

AI-powered income generation and side hustle opportunities

How AI is changing job markets and what it means for your career

Real risks and limitations of AI in financial decision-making

Future trends in AI and personal finance

How to stay ahead in the AI revolution without getting overwhelmed

Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, you'll walk away with actionable ways to use this technology to reach your financial goals faster.

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