Catching Up to FI

By Bill Yount & Jackie Cummings Koski

A mindset, money, and life podcast for late starters catching up to Financial Independence.... more

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How many episodes does Catching Up to FI have?

The podcast currently has 239 episodes available.

Best of Catching Up to FI

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Vanguard Acquires Altruist: Why Fidelity & Schwab Better Look Out! | Barry Ritholtz | Bonus
What happens when one of investing's original disruptors buys one of the industry's newest disruptors? Barry Ritholtz thinks investors may be the biggest winners and Bill and Jackie dig into why. This special breaking-news is an excerpt from an upcoming Catching Up to FI episode, recorded on 8/26/26. Barry reacts to Vanguard's newly announced agreement to acquire Altruist, the fast-growing technology and custody platform built for independent financial advisors. Barry also gives an important disclosure: he's an Altruist investor, so yes, he has a dog in this fight. From there, he explains why combining Vanguard's enormous scale with Altruist's technology could quickly reshape the custody business, put fresh pressure on Fidelity and Schwab, and potentially extend the famous "Vanguard Effect" into another corner of financial services. Bill calls it "disruptor squared." Barry sees an industry that never stands still. And if competition drives prices lower again, investors may ultimately be the ones cashing the biggest check. This episode covers Barry's immediate reaction to Vanguard's agreement to acquire Altruist His disclosure that he is an Altruist investor and financially benefits from the deal Why Altruist's clean-sheet technology made it an attractive challenger to legacy custodians How Vanguard's scale could immediately change Altruist's competitive position Why Fidelity and Schwab may suddenly have a much larger third competitor The "Vanguard Effect" and how competition can push fees lower across an industry Why Barry believes investors could be the biggest winners from the acquisition How Schwab and Robinhood previously disrupted investing through lower-cost and free trading Why Vanguard was a logical potential acquirer given its earlier relationship with Altruist Barry's larger lesson that financial technology never stands still The Full Episode with Barry Ritholtz will be coming out soon! Be sure to follow the show or subscribe to the channel on YouTube, so you don't miss it!" === SUPPORT THE SHOW === 📩 Sign up for our newsletter 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question . ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== F.I.R.E. For Dummies Did you know that co-host Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC® is also author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies"? This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to move from the basics of their finances to reaching F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and enjoying the time freedom it creates. Even if you feel behind on your finances, the steps in this book will help you catch up sooner than you ever imagined. Learn from someone who actually achieved F.I.R.E. in her 40s even after getting a late start Covers everything from basics to advanced strategies in one guide Practical solutions for early retirement obstacles like health insurance and early withdrawal penalties 📕 Get Your Copy (currently 40% off on Amazon) For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners . RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Official Vanguard announcement – Vanguard to Acquire Altruist, Expanding the Reach and Impact of Financial Advice View the August 26, 2026 Vanguard announcement Vanguard FAQ – Vanguard to Acquire Altruist Read Vanguard's acquisition FAQ Altruist's official acquisition announcement Read the Altruist announcement Ritholtz Wealth https://ritholtzwealth.com/ How Not to Invest https://a.co/d/07ZHXM8h . 📌Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.
August 27, 20269min
Number 2: Retiring Early? CPA Explains How To Use A 72(t) to Escape The 10% Penalty | Bill Stecker (Part1) | 234
You won't find a more comprehensive resource on the topic of 72(t) plans and substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP). This little-known IRS provision gives you a perfectly legal way to access your retirement money before 59½ without the 10% penalty… and almost nobody in finance wants to touch it! So, Jackie brings back the one expert that lives and breathes 72(t)s, William (Bill) Stecker, CPA and founder of 72tcalc.com. Bill picks up where he left off when he last appeared on the show in 2025. He further explains the nuances of 72(t) plans and how to avoid common mistakes. Hear how 72(t)s can be incredibly powerful tools for early retirees, laid-off workers, and anyone ready to leave the traditional "hours-for-dollars" trade. This episode covers What a 72(t) or SEPP plan actually is Access to retirement accounts before age 59½ without the 10% penalty tax Why so many financial professionals hesitate to work with 72(t) plans The minimum plan period and why modifying a SEPP can become extremely expensive How to determine how much early retirement income you actually need The differences between the Rule of 55 and a 72(t) strategy Why Bill usually prefers moving money from employer "plan land" into "IRA land" How brokerage accounts, Roth contributions, part-time work, and SEPPs can work together Why inflation and unexpected expenses need to be built into an early-retirement income plan How splitting an IRA into separate accounts can create flexibility and isolate potential mistakes This is the first part of a 2-part episode. Be sure to follow the show and catch part 2 next week (9/6/26). . === SUPPORT THE SHOW === 📩 Sign up for our newsletter 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question . ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== F.I.R.E. For Dummies Did you know that co-host Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC® is also author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies"? This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to move from the basics of their finances to reaching F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and enjoying the time freedom it creates. Even if you feel behind on your finances, the steps in this book will help you catch up sooner than you ever imagined. Learn from someone who actually achieved F.I.R.E. in her 40s even after getting a late start Covers everything from basics to advanced strategies in one guide Practical solutions for early retirement obstacles like health insurance and early withdrawal penalties 📕 Get Your Copy (currently 40% off on Amazon) For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners . RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW 🌐72tcalc.com Website Free consultation with Bill Stecker's Firm (The Marble Group) email: [email protected] Phone: (312) 361-0221 72(t) Calculators 72tCalc FI Tax Guy 72(t) using Google Sheet Dinkytown CalcXML UngrindFi Official IRS Tax Code 72(t) . ⏰ Related Episodes 72(t) Expert Tells All: No More Secrets About Early Withdrawals (Part 1) | Bill Stecker | 131 Cashing in on 72(t): The Goldmine of Early Retirement Rules (Part2) | Bill Stecker | 133 . 📌Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.
August 30, 202657min
Number 3: Are Pensions Really Dead? The Surprising Value of Modern Pensions | Andy Panko | 233
What if that old pension you barely think about is secretly one of the most valuable assets in your retirement plan? Bill and Jackie welcome back financial planner and educator, Andy Panko for a deep dive into the increasingly rare (but far from extinct) world of pensions. They explore plans from private and government employers and why a seemingly small monthly check can dramatically change the work the rest of your portfolio has to do. This episode covers Why pensions are less common but still relevant to millions of workers What it actually means when an employer "freezes" a pension How to think about a pension as part of your overall retirement portfolio The risks behind private, federal, state, and municipal pension promises Lump sum versus lifetime monthly payments and the trade-offs of each Single-life, joint-and-survivor, period-certain, and inflation-adjusted pension options Why guaranteed income can give retirees psychological permission to spend When comparing an employer pension with a commercial income annuity may make sense Andy's four-question framework for deciding whether lifetime payments fit your plan Jackie's pension options and her final decision to turn on lifetime monthly payments Where to find old or forgotten pensions from previous employers . === SUPPORT THE SHOW === 📩 Sign up for our newsletter 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question . ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== F.I.R.E. For Dummies Did you know that co-host Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC® is also author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies"? This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to move from the basics of their finances to reaching F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and enjoying the time freedom it creates. Even if you feel behind on your finances, the steps in this book will help you catch up sooner than you ever imagined. Learn from someone who actually achieved F.I.R.E. in her 40s even after getting a late start Covers everything from basics to advanced strategies in one guide Practical solutions for early retirement obstacles like health insurance and early withdrawal penalties 📕 Get Your Copy (currently 40% off on Amazon) For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners . RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Tenon Financial website Retirement Planning Education website Andy's podcast Andy's Youtube Andy's LinkedIn Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Dinkytown.net- Pension vs. Lump Sum Payout Calculator Estimate Immediate Annuities . ⏰ Related Episodes How K-12 Teachers Can Beat the Broken 403(b) System | Dan Otter & Scott Dauenhauer | 226 Retired Before 50: A Look at Her Real Finances, Numbers & Strategy | Andy Panko Crossover | 186 Retirement Planning Tips | Andy Panko | 063 . 📌Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.
August 23, 20261h 42min
Number 4: The Truth Behind Raising A Teenage Money Whiz (From The Parents Of Rishi Vamdatt) | Renu & Raag Vamdatt | 232
After Rishi Vamdatt's conversation with Bill and Jackie, his parents Renu and Raag step out from behind the scenes to share how their son became the 16-year-old financial educator behind Easy Peasy Finance. They believe raising a financially savvy kid has less to do with giving money lectures and more to do with letting them swipe the credit card at the grocery store and ask "what happens next"? Their approach was surprisingly simple: money was never taboo, questions were always welcome, and Rishi was allowed to follow his curiosity rather than being scheduled into oblivion. For late-starting parents, the reassuring message here is that you don't need to raise another Rishi. Just talk openly, model your values, and follow the child. This episode covers How Renu and Raag recognized Rishi's unusual interest in money from a very young age Why money, income, mortgages, and family finances were never treated as taboo How everyday activities like grocery shopping became natural financial lessons The family effort behind the early years of Easy Peasy Finance Why Rishi has turned down sponsorships, including significant offers, to protect audience trust How Rishi's parents balance his mathematical approach with the emotional side of money Why letting children lead their interests can be more powerful than filling every hour with activities How Rishi balanced finance with theater, travel, fishing, scuba diving, video games, and being a regular kid What parents can do differently to build financial fluency in the next generation How financial values and openness traveled from grandparents to parents to Rishi . === SUPPORT THE SHOW === 📩 Sign up for our newsletter 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question . ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== F.I.R.E. For Dummies Did you know that co-host Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC® is also author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies"? This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to move from the basics of their finances to reaching F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and enjoying the time freedom it creates. Even if you feel behind on your finances, the steps in this book will help you catch up sooner than you ever imagined. Learn from someone who actually achieved F.I.R.E. in her 40s even after getting a late start Covers everything from basics to advanced strategies in one guide Practical solutions for early retirement obstacles like health insurance and early withdrawal penalties 📕 Get Your Copy (currently 40% off on Amazon) For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners . RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Easy Peasy Finance Easy Peasy Finance YouTube 📕Easy Peasy Money Coverage on CBS News Kiplinger Article I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Ramit Sethi) . ⏰ Related Episodes This 16-Year-Old CFP Exam Passer Is Making Personal Finance "Easy Peasy" | Rishi Vamdatt | 231 Why 90% of Families Lose Their Wealth (and How to Stop the Cycle) | Julia Myers | 209 Is Your 401(k) a Mess? Do This Now (Step-by-Step Guide) | Bill & Jackie | 205 Money Scripts: Don't Get Scrooged! | Brad Klontz | 175 . 📌Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.
August 19, 202631min
Number 5: This 16-Year-Old CFP Exam Passer Is Making Personal Finance "Easy Peasy" | Rishi Vamdatt | 231
What if the person explaining money to your kids has already been doing it for more than half his life, and passed the CFP exam before he could legally vote? Bill and Jackie sit down with 16-year-old Rishi Vamdatt, founder of Easy Peasy Finance. Rishi started learning about money at six, investing at seven, and teaching personal finance on YouTube at eight. But this isn't just a story about an unusually motivated teenager. Rishi offers a surprisingly universal lesson: money gets easier when we strip away the jargon, practice with real dollars, automate the basics, and start where we are. This episode covers How Rishi passed the CFP exam at just 16 years old The childhood experiences that sparked his fascination with money Why he gave up birthday parties and started investing at age seven How Easy Peasy Finance grew from kid-friendly three-minute videos into more than 1,300 pieces of financial content What parents can do to teach kids about money without turning it into another lecture Why allowances, real-life practice, and even small money mistakes can be powerful teachers Rishi's simple approach to index funds, automation, and long-term investing Why financial education should begin before high school His take on Roth IRAs, 529 plans, Trump accounts, taxes, and estate planning What a 16-year-old financial educator wants late starters to remember about beginning today . === SUPPORT THE SHOW === 📩 Sign up for our newsletter 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website 🔗Connect with us ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question . ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== F.I.R.E. For Dummies Did you know that co-host Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC® is also author of "F.I.R.E. For Dummies"? This is the perfect guide for anyone looking to move from the basics of their finances to reaching F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and enjoying the time freedom it creates. Even if you feel behind on your finances, the steps in this book will help you catch up sooner than you ever imagined. Learn from someone who actually achieved F.I.R.E. in her 40s even after getting a late start Covers everything from basics to advanced strategies in one guide Practical solutions for early retirement obstacles like health insurance and early withdrawal penalties 📕 Get Your Copy (currently 40% off on Amazon) For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners . RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Easy Peasy Finance Easy Peasy Finance YouTube 📕Easy Peasy Money Coverage on CBS News Kiplinger Article I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Ramit Sethi) . ⏰ Related Episodes 20 Questions from 20-Somethings About Money | Dr. DeLong, Emilie Stewart. Britton Carver | 208 Celebrating Financial Literacy Month with Next Gen Personal Finance | Tim Ranzetta | 072 . 📌Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.
August 16, 20261h 3min