BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Don’t know how to become a millionaire? There’s a pretty simple formula for seven-figure wealth that the average American doesn’t know about. It isn’t complicated, but it does take a fair amount of time to come to fruition. If you follow the same strategy, regardless of where you’re starting right now, you too could become a millionaire in under ten years. This wealth-building formula is exactly what today’s guest, Remy, is looking for.

Remy is doing his mid-twenties the right way. He’s got a great income, contributes heavily to investing, and already has six figures in equity thanks to buying his home two years ago. He’s made moves that many young investors would envy, but he wants to go even further over the next ten years. Remy is looking to become “real estate ready” in 2023, meaning he needs to be in a favorable position to start building his rental property portfolio so he can have a million dollars of real estate by the time he turns thirty-five.

The plan is simple for Remy, but he’ll need to make some serious tradeoffs. Is more real estate worth forsaking his growing retirement accounts? Should he slash his emergency fund to pile more fuel onto the FIRE? And where can he cut his budget so he’s saving as much cash as possible, ready to invest in the next great deal that comes his way? If you want to get real estate ready like Remy, stick around! 

In This Episode We Cover

How to invest more when you’re financially treading water every month 

Why requoting your car insurance after a certain age could save you thousands 

Real estate vs. retirement investing and which one is worth a bigger contribution

Renting vs. selling your primary residence and when freeing up cash is the right move to make

Emergency reserves and the certain situation when Scott and Mindy are against them

Why retirement accounts can be a “trap” for the investor who wants to retire early

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-365

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

Everyone makes financial mistakes, even those that we trust with money the most. Rachel “Money Honey” Richardsto many people online is the epitome of someone who has their finances locked down. She grew a massive real estate portfolio in her twenties, hit financial freedom before thirty, and has written bestselling books that others use to increase their financial acumen. And although Rachel still is a financially free money nerd like no other, her recent divorce changed most of what she knew.

Through a few simple mistakes, Rachel’s recent divorce dragged on longer, cost more, and left more up to chance than she would have liked. After going through the pain, struggles, and anxiety of leaving the marriage, Rachel wants everyone, whether single, dating or married, to not make the same mistakes she made. These mistakes are often small, and can be easily overlooked, but making them could be deadly to your finances and allow an unplanned divorce to bury you.

But this isn’t all advice on what to do before or during a divorce. Rachel shares personal advice on red flags you should look for when starting a relationship, how to separate your finances so you keep what is yours, and why overlooking a prenup can be one of the worst moves to make when starting your marriage. No one plans for a divorce, and Rachel didn’t as well. So happily ever after or not, these life-saving moves are ones you should be thinking about making.

In This Episode We Cover

The “misaligned vision” that led to Rachel and her ex-husband’s divorce

Red flags to watch out for and an instant sign that a relationship may not work out

Losing 50% of your real estate portfolio to divorce and how to protect against it happening again

What most couples get wrong about marital assets and how they’ll get split during a divorce 

Rachel’s four biggest money mistakes that you should NEVER make when married

The trust cost of divorce and how much Rachel had to pay to separate

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Prenups, Projects, Prolific Spending, and Planning for 2022 w/ Carl & Mindy Jensen

Why You’re (Probably) Wrong About Prenups

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-364

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

Once you know how to save money, you can start stacking those savings to buy real estate and businesses or invest in long-term wealth-building investment accounts. But, without a steady stream of savings coming in, you're treading water, and one emergency expense could completely blow you off course. In a high-cost-of-living area like Washington, DC., this can seem even harder as rent, gas, and going out prices are far above the national average. But, there are some surefire ways to save (and make) more every month.

On this Finance Friday episode, we talk to Richard, a government tech worker who makes a great salary but could potentially be bringing in much more. Richard’s dream of being the President naturally led him to real estate investing, and now he’s focused on building bigger, stronger, and smarter income streams so he has ultimate time freedom (and a high net worth) in the next few decades. But even with his tech salary, Richard struggles to save every month, with random expenses knocking him out as soon as they arise.

Mindy and Scott go through Richard’s income and expenses as well as his debts, much of which are forgivable student loans. Richard debates whether sticking with his perk-heavy government job is worth the pay difference he could gain in the private sector. And whether or not buying cash-flowing businesses is a smart move, especially for someone without much savings. If you’ve struggled to boost your bank account, this episode may hit close to home!

In This Episode We Cover

Public student loan forgiveness and the “trap” many government workers find themselves in

Emergency funds, safety reserves, and how to build one from scratch

When to change jobs for more pay vs. when to keep big benefits, but a lower salary

How to budget and the better way to track your expenses if you struggle to save

Buying a business and what it takes for first-time entrepreneurs

Creating a vivid vision of what your life, job, and business will look like in five to ten years

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-363

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

A financial plan puts you on the path to long-term wealth and a life rich in time freedom. So why don’t most Americans have one? Everyday workers are often so focused on paying bills and having a sliver of time to relax that they completely forget the whole reason many of us work—to one day do what we want, when we want, with who we want. So, if you’ve been on the grind, making money, wanting to build wealth, but don’t know where to start, this is the episode for you.

In it, Scott Trench walks through his “investment philosophy,” a simple, customizable plan that has allowed him to build wealth at record speed all in less than ten years. This document can be used by anyone in any position no matter how much you have invested or saved up. Once written, this simple financial plan gives you laser-focus on building wealth, so market crashes or corrections become a buying opportunity and slow months/years are something to cherish, not worry over.

Scott and Mindy walk through this document piece by piece, giving you the exact answers you need to build your investment plan today. Although this document may sound simple, it’s what will define your life’s effort for the foreseeable future and give you the structure you need to accomplish massive wealth-building goals that may have seemed almost impossible before!

Get the Personal Investment Philosophy Template Here!

In This Episode We Cover

Why creating a financial plan/investment philosophy is so crucial when building wealth 

Goal setting and discovering the principles of investing that you follow

How to set your “target state” and what to do after you’ve achieved your biggest goals

How to choose which asset classes to invest in (even if you’re brand new to investing)

Emergency funds, safety reserves, and when or when not to keep a large cash position

The three steps you can do TODAY that will fast-track your wealth-building

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Get the Personal Investment Philosophy Template Here! 

Finance Friday: First Down Market? Here’s How to Stop Stressing

The Money Date: What You Should (And Definitely Should Not) Do to Align Your Finances as a Couple

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-362

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

Retirement planning is something best started early on. The more time you give yourself to invest, the faster your accounts can grow, giving you early financial independence well before the age of sixty-five. But what are the two best ways to do this? On one hand, you’ve got cash-flowing rentals that appreciate while giving you freedom-enabling income with long-term wealth growth. On the other hand, you’ve got passive retirement accounts, many of which can save you boatloads on taxes and grow discreetly in the background while you work away.

It’s hard to say which is a better bet, so why not do both? Today’s guest Benjamin is feeling a little under-diversified after heavily investing in real estate, but without much in his retirement accounts. Benjamin is well versed in the pros and cons of pre and post-tax retirement investing, but with a high income, he’s worried that he may have already reached the income cap for his Roth IRA. Thankfully, he’s unlocked the “holy grail” of retirement accounts, one that will skyrocket his retirement quicker than he thinks.

But before all of this is done, Benjamin and his partner need to build their investment plan. This will help them stay the course when life events come up, allowing them to still retire rich, hopefully in less than a decade. If you want to build your own investment plan, we highly recommend using the one from our own Scott Trench!

In This Episode We Cover

Paying off six figures of student debt and using the extra income to invest heavily

House hacking and using primary residences to build wealth

Roth IRA investing and what to do if you’ve hit the income limit

The best way to invest in your retirement with stocks and index funds

The right way to do diversification and safely building wealth at a young age

Speeding up your path to financial independence with rental property investing

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Fidelity Investments

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-361

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

If you talk about how to avoid taxes, most people will think you’re doing something fishy in the eyes of the IRS. Very few know you can use the tax code to massively lower your year-end burden, all while making an ordinary income. Real estate investors have been doing this for years, using so-called “tax cheat codes” like depreciation and cost segregation studies to write off massive paper losses on their taxes. But how do they do it, and if you’re an investor, can you do the same?

Natalie Kolodij, IRS Enrolled Agent, works exclusively with real estate investors to lower their taxes as much as legally possible. She knows the tricks of the trade that allow investors to not only pay less at the end of the year but grow their businesses more efficiently so financial freedom comes even faster! Natalie is also an active real estate investor and part of the FIRE movement, so if there’s one person who knows the right tax moves to make, it’s her!

Natalie gives us a masterclass on how investors can lower their 2022 taxes as the year comes to an end, how to set yourself up for a successful 2023, and the massive real estate tax write-offs you should be utilizing. She also touches on how much CPAs and tax preparers can cost, when to start strategizing your taxes, backdoor Roths, and how to legally pay your children tax-free income so they get a boost on their financial future.

In This Episode We Cover

Year-end tax tips to lower your 2022 taxes as much as possible

When to hire a CPA or tax preparer (and how much they’ll cost you)

2023 tax deductions for real estate investors and what you should take advantage of NOW

How to get your children investing early with tax-free income from your business

The biggest tax mistakes that investors make and why you may be overpaying in taxes

Cost segregation studies, bonus depreciation, and how to cancel out the capital gains of a home sale

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Choosing the Right Tax Professional for YOUR Specific Needs

BiggerPockets Money Bonus Episode: CARES Act: Everything You NEED to Know About the Coronavirus Stimulus Package

Landlord Tax Loopholes That’ll Help You Pay ZERO Taxes in 2022

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-360

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

The house hack strategy doesn’t always run smoothly. Turning an old home into a modern, rentable masterpiece takes money—especially if you’re doing a big renovation. One of the easiest ways to get the rehab funds you need? A home equity line of credit (HELOC). But, when used incorrectly, a HELOC’s adjustable interest rate can bury any chance you have at cash flowing, no matter how great of a mortgage rate you get.

Welcome back to another Finance Friday episode! This time around, we’re tackling a rental property problem that is plaguing today’s guest, Josh. Josh has made some sound financial moves by having a stable income, a great side hustle, and his newest house hack. But, to maximize this house hack’s return on investment, Josh was forced to expand and convert many portions of his newly bought, hundred-and-fifty-year-old home. This forced his budget to shoot up higher than he was expecting. Now, he’s trying to figure out the best move as he manages his debt spread across his mortgage, a high-interest HELOC, a family loan, and more.

Josh is poised to continue investing in real estate even after this intensive experience. He wants advice from veteran landlords Mindy and Scott on what his next move should be, how he can best capitalize on his remodeled home, and when he might be able to buy the next house hack. If you’re looking to reach financial freedom using real estate like Josh is, this episode is for you!

In This Episode We Cover

The house hack strategy and why it’s a phenomenal way for new investors to build wealth

Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and when using this type of debt makes sense

Home renovation budgeting and what to expect when doing an entire house remodel

Velocity banking and why this form of leverage isn’t a smart move to make now

When to sell a rental property and when to keep a cash-flowing investment

The medium-term rental strategy and how to get higher rents for the same room or unit

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-359

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

For the past decade, Giving Tuesday has been a way for everyday Americans to donate their money, or time, to charities and causes that help collectively make the world a better place. Whether it’s a little or a lot, we’re encouraged to give what we can to bridge the gap between those that have so little and many of us that have so much. But how do you know a charity or organization is using your donation accordingly? How can you spot-check to see if your dollars are being used for those in dire need?

We brought on Elie Hassenfeld, GiveWell co-founder and CEO, to help us navigate the tricky subject of giving to worthwhile charities. Elie knows a thing or two about validating which charities are worth donating to. At GiveWell, he spends his days researching thousands of charities for hundreds of millions of donatable dollars, helping those of us that are too busy to find a home for the donations that we are willing to give.

In just six tips, Elie will give you the framework for finding a worthwhile charity or organization to give to, so you know that your dollar is being stretched the farthest it can. We also touch on whether or not high administration costs are ared flag, whether it's better to give goods rather than money, and how to truly measure an organization's impact to see how many lives they’re saving or improving with each dollar donated. If you're still on the fence about where to give this Giving Tuesday, head over to GiveWell.org to know your dollar is making a difference! 

In This Episode We Cover

Why donating overseas has much more of an economic impact than domestic donations

How GiveWell validates the charities they approve and how to do the same in your local area

Top tips for finding a charity that will use your dollar for its highest use

Red flags to watch out for when researching charities and organizations

GiveWell’s past mistakes and how they’re using them to grow a better organization

Top charities that both GiveWell and BiggerPockets recommend donating to (like CrossPurpose!)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Give Well

 

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-358

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

The cost of raising a child is constantly changing. Every year, a new article comes out claiming that the cost of raising a child is hundreds of thousands of dollars. But is this figure accurate? Could kids actually cost far less than this, or does a few hundred thousand barely even scratch the service? What should new parents know before they bring home their first bundle of joy, and is financial independence even worth pursuing while raising a kid, let alone a few?

We brought in the Investor Mama, Jen Narciso, who is not only raising kids but also chasing financial independenceand running her own podcast. Jen speaks to mothers all around the world who not only want the best for their children's futures but their finances as well. And, as someone raising two young children, she knows how much kids truly costbetween the car seats, formula, dance classes, doctors' bills, and everything in between.

And, with Scott as a new dad, he’s got some serious questions to ask about how he can best raise his own daughter on a budget without sacrificing any quality of life in the process. Jen talks through the surprise expenses that most new parents overlook, how to save money on some of the most expensive items you need, the cost of child care and how to make it affordable, and whether to invest for your child’s future or your future retirement!

In This Episode We Cover

The average annual cost of raising a child and why it’s not what you’d expect

Common child care costs and innovative ways to significantly lower your spending

Surprise expenses you should prepare for and why you always need an emergency fund

Money tips for new parents and how to sleep soundly even if you’re not financially free yet

Roth IRA investing for your child and how to fast-track them to financial freedom even earlier

Medical costs of having a child from delivery to regular doctors visits

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

Toysrus

InvestorMama Podcast

4 Ways Real Estate Can Help Offset the Staggering Cost of Having Kids

Taxes, Backdoor Roths, Options, and How to Max Out Your Childrens’ Roths

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!

Tech stocks were slam dunk investments for the past decade. No matter what you invested in—Google, Facebook, Amazon, or even some obscure AI toaster company—you probably made decent returns. But, after years of continuous economic growth and massive government stimulus, tech stocks are finally starting to get shaky. The problem? New investors like Zoe have huge paper losses on their dashboards. But is this worth worrying over?

Zoe is an ideal investor. At just twenty-four, she already has close to six-figure wealth, with a house hack, a respectable retirement portfolio, and a solid income every month. She’s making the right moves but feels like some of her most recent choices haven’t hit the mark. She dabbled in stock picking as her income went up, investing in some of the biggest names in tech over the past few years. Her house hack, which is almost letting her live for free, was bought at the top of the market with an average interest rate.

Zoe needs to know what to do next. Should she sell her tech stocks and invest the money into index funds where she can let it ride? Should she buy a new house hack that allows her to live for free instead of at a discount? And where should she put the thousands of dollars she’s saving every month to ensure her a life of financial freedom in the near future? Zoe has some enviable problems, and on this Finance Friday, we’ll be solving them!

In This Episode We Cover

The 2022 stock market crash and whether selling and cutting your losses is a smart idea

The right way to invest in tech stocks and how to get educated on stock picking

House hacking and how deals that aren’t “home runs” can still be huge winners

Getting paid to learn about real estate and using your downtime to boost your financial knowledge

FHA loans, conventional loans, USDA loans, and other ways to fund a property purchase for low money down

The right moves to make in your early twenties and why Zoe is a role model for new graduates

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Find an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

BiggerPockets Forums

Finance Review Guest Onboarding

Mindy's Twitter

Scott's Instagram

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Apply to Be a Guest on The Money Show

Podcast Talent Search!

Subscribe to The “On The Market” YouTube Channel

Listen to The “On The Market” Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BiggerPockets

Check Out Mindy’s 2022 Live Spending Tracker and Budget

The 4 Steps to Financial Freedom and Debt-Free Wealth

Is Now the Time to Buy as The Housing Market Starts to Dip?

Click here to check the full show notes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-356

Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page!