In this week's episode, I break down the relationship between savings rate and timelines to FI, and share a breakthrough that has me flipping conventional FI wisdom on it's head. What I realized is that for my specific situation, there is only a few years difference in my FI timeline if I continue to save at my current rate vs stopping saving completely. And so the reframe I am doing is: instead of having to wait until FI to make any career changes, examining the tradeoff between doing my current job for the next 10-15 years, vs. pivoting to a different one, since the reality is that even if I save nothing in a new role, the FI timeline wasn't as different as I expected. This reframe changed the way I am thinking about the next 10 years of my life. Hopefully this will be useful for those of you in the messy middle as well.

Disclaimer: this is not financial advice, and is for educational purposes only.

ChooseFI Years to FI: https://choosefi.com/financial-independence/savings-rate

Money with Katie Perfect Savings Rate: https://open.spotify.com/episode/37SkkaG8r1u7DV4X7jUdk3?si=cS_Wu4pqRJWxXIxhEQU1Jg

Risk Taker Types and How to Optimize: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oa135SjX7FVyW4AwSRA1r?si=4BcArqlaTbCYp2WuSIY4Dw

Patrick Boyle: https://youtu.be/nJtL9MBVj48?si=VkYMUIZhZJi_jNwj

In today's episode, I talk all about risk takers! I myself tend skew more conservative when it comes to taking risks. Others skew more aggressive. Either way, I share tips and reframes to think through for risk decisions you may be considering in your life. Hope you find it useful!

In this week's episode, I reflect on how my perspective on community has changed over the course of this year. I have had several realizations about ideal communities this year, inspired by trips I took this summer to visit friends and family. Ever since, I have been thinking more clearly about what kind of community I am looking for, and where I might find it. There are no big decisions in this episode, but hopefully the content is food for thought for your own life and community.

Paula Pant's Podcast about Community: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ms47AUJXIoGF1RnlWC9xU?si=g4Pn3QHFSCWpg2MUNeAZDA

In this week's episode, with the help of some recent Reddit posts, I reflect on CoastFI/BaristaFI jobs - from how finding the sweet spot of a Phase 3 job can be quite difficult, to the best tips on how to find an ideal CoastFI job (from going beyond open job boards to experimenting to see what kinds of roles you would like).

Job Phases Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yZh0c9QFT96Xy9LeRHkDn?si=psF5P5GIQ_2BDLgXTJQkIw

FIRE Takes: https://open.spotify.com/show/03U4qFWm1QTTqtLCqhojct?si=18a708a0de634f65

In this week's episode, I continue my discussion with Doug Cunnington of Mile High FI on career, identity, and purpose. In Part 1 (linked below), we discussed childhood and career. In Part 2, we discuss the leap into entrepreneurship, how we form our identities, and what we find purpose in.

Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/31Yx8fRrMw1sCqIMM7Y8VJ?si=z1YoZMzSRQyS1b3kHMSfoA

In this week's episode, I am doing the final segment of my Paychecks to Purpose series for the year! I got the opportunity to talk with Doug Cunnington (host of Mile High FI) about his childhood, career, identity, and purpose. In this 1st part, we cover highlights from childhood as well as career. Tune in to Part 2 next week for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, and purpose.

Mile High FI podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3UehnLcmk0RFkEDmhHLZZV?si=3b1c133df0ea4189

In this week's episode, I reflect on how some people optimize for money and time to the detriment of their happiness, and how there is a sweet spot for both. I emphasize the importance of designing our best life first and creating it from there rather than letting money or time optimization lead into a life not aligned with our ideals/happiness. I also reflect on a recent mainstream media article about a FIRE person who early retired and is lonely, and I comment about how that media is incentivized to make FIRE look bad or controversial for clicks.

In this episode, I cover progress towards my 2026 goals across a range of topics (podcasting, finance coaching/advising, friends & family, cooking, piano, and more). I also do a media segment this week where I highlight different Asian men at different stages in life going through a purpose conversation that I have been following recently on Youtube. Many of them are on the FIRE path (accidentally or purposefully) and they are all figuring our their purpose, career, and/or ikigai.

2026 Goals Original Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3cDmXhr6rq6zIQC68gGlUo?si=ewSbY_xfTkWa3JNr6o6svw

Andrew Xu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNboESxkwBM

Asian Dad Energy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjp4BlV4Sw0&pp=0gcJCaMLAYcqIYzv

Goobie and Doobie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-ZV0AZRww&t=1500s

In this week's episode, as I have been considering my own potential relocation, I have been thinking a lot about my mom's big relocation (from South Korea to the US). She made this decision in her early 20's and made some serious sacrifices to make it happen (she took her family with her and became the main provider). Relocation has both risks & rewards, and in this episode I reflect on what I suspect were a few for hers. And I close admiring her for making such a leap of faith with benefits that compounded long after she was gone.

For my 50th episode (roughly speaking), I am reflecting on the podcast's origins, where I am at in the present with the podcast, and how the message of the podcast is being incorporated into my own life. I also touch base on my hopes for the future of the podcast. Finally, I throw in some lessons learned about podcasting AV setup and editing software for others to learn from if they are looking to start their own podcast! I hope you enjoy this reflection and update.

Job Phases: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yZh0c9QFT96Xy9LeRHkDn?si=lZRYnDBSSd63i4rFKJVm7g

Intentional Life Planning: https://open.spotify.com/episode/059ylZKOesIGWgyGjI6pwd?si=O5_50DnjR_2et0O5fSiToA

2026 Goals: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3cDmXhr6rq6zIQC68gGlUo?si=fnDipI8lTFaHJ6KKSfBohA