Feeling uneasy about your finances in today’s economy? Learn how to turn fear into your greatest investing motivator with Sam Dogen, founder of Financial Samurai.

In this powerful episode, Sam shares how fear helped him build wealth, leave a high-stress Wall Street job, and create true financial independence. Whether you're just getting started or trying to level up your savings rate, this conversation will inspire you to use fear—not as a crutch, but as a catalyst.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Role of Fear in Hard Times
00:20 – Show Intro: Using Fear to Drive Financial Action
01:30 – Should Families Be Fearful of Today’s Economy?
02:30 – How Fear Can Be a Powerful Motivator
03:40 – When Fear Becomes Paralysis
04:15 – The Concept of “Return on Effort”
05:15 – What is a Saving Rate and Why it Matters
06:30 – How to Calculate Your Saving Rate
07:45 – Sam’s Saving Journey: From Goldman Sachs to FIRE
10:00 – Facing the Financial Crisis and Learning from It
11:15 – The Fear During 2008 and Lessons for 2025
12:50 – Investment Strategies: Beyond the 401(k)
13:45 – The Utility of Stocks vs. Real Estate Investing
15:15 – Reaching Financial Independence and Negotiating a Severance
17:20 – Financial Independence with Kids: The New Fear
18:15 – The Dual Unemployed Parents Dilemma
20:00 – Optimal Parental Anxiety and Letting Go
21:00 – One Final Piece of Advice for Struggling Families
22:00 – Understanding Bear Markets and Historical Cycles
23:00 – Where to Find “Millionaire Milestones” by Sam Dogen
23:20 – Andy’s Top 3 Takeaways from the Interview
25:25 – Closing Credits and Final Thoughts

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