Another look at whether you should pay off your mortgage or invest, plus:  Spam Caller Life Hack Life Hack for Small Business Owners Achieving FI on a Modest Income  For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.choosefi.com/135r

135R | The Plot Thickens

How would your life change if you reached Financial Independence and got to the point where working is optional? What actions can you take today to make that not just possible but probable. Jonathan & Brad explore the tactics that the FI community uses to reclaim decades of their lives. They discuss reducing expenses, crushing debt, tax optimization, building passive income streams through online businesses and real estate and how to travel the world for free. Every episode is packed with actionable tips and no topic is too big or small as long as it speeds up the process of reaching financial independence.

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In this episode: events, community, travel rewards, medidations, mini retirements, travel wins, and travel points. This week we are back with friend of the pod Ginger to discuss a mixed bag of topics, such as attending FI events, travel rewards and companion passes, as well as the idea of a “mini” retirements and what that can look like while on the path to FI. However, this episode isn't titled "The Ultimate Random Show" for nothing, as we branch off in quite a few different directions as we cover those topics. As opposed to having us try and describe it for you, it may be best to go ahead and hit play so you can see for yourself! New ChooseFI shirts are now available here! Timestamps:  0:47 – Introduction 1:42 – Events and Community 11:59 – Travel Rewards 21:41 – Meditation 24:46 – Brad’s Phoenix Trip 31:40 – What We Are Listening To/Mini Retirements 45:11 – Travel Points/Wins 51:32 – Conclusion  Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:  The Donegans Afford Anything EconoME Conference Insight Timer Mile High FI Coach Carson Mr. Money Mustache & Car Free Living at Culdesac | MHFI 207  Forget About Money  How to Access Your Retirement Accounts Before 59.5 | Sean Mullaney | ChooseFI Ep 475 Mindy On Money Retire Often  Best Tools for Booking Hotels with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler Points Yeah Points.Me Seats.Aero Subscribe to The FI Weekly!  More Helpful Links and FI Resources:  Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family’s Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI’ for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount) Get a cheaper phone plan with Mint Mobile 

The Ultimate Random Show | Ginger

In this episode: connecting points, the power of FU money, the early retirement era, and enjoying the journey. This week we are joined by returning guests, Steven and Lauren Keys from Trip of a Lifestyle, to update us on their FI journey and “early retirement era,” as well as discuss the importance of finding the courage and freedom to make radical lifestyle changes in the present. We all know that money can open up new opportunities in your life, whether it’s having the flexibility to leave your job for a better one or even relocating to a dream country, but most of us forget that these opportunities can be achieved sooner than you think! The journey to FI is about taking actionable steps to build and achieve the life you want, and you don’t have to wait until you’re fully retired to do it! While you’re starting to save and spend less, remember that you’re getting closer and closer to your goal, but even still that it’s not a poor decision to spend money on things that are important to you and can improve your life!  New ChooseFI shirts are now available here!  Trip of a Lifestyle:  Website: tripofalifestyle.com Instagram: @tripofalifestyle Crambetter: crambetter.com  Timestamps:  0:46 – Introduction 3:12 – Connecting Points 6:39 – Taking Money Out of the Equation 13:14 – The Power of FU Money 23:39 – Getting to The Early Retirement Era 33:27 – Investing 44:59 – Paying Yourself Last? 48:39 – Enjoying the Journey/Setting Yourself up for Success 58:13 – Conclusion  Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:  Trip of a Lifestyle to All US National Parks | ChooseFI Ep 226  We Took a 3-Month Vacation and Came Home $26,000 Richer  How We Saved $100k in 2 Years on Teacher Salaries  We Vacationed Our Way to $1 Million by Age 33 (and You Can Too) Inside the Investment Portfolio of Early Retirees Pay Yourself Last: Why You Don’t Need A Budget Subscribe to The FI Weekly!  More Helpful Links and FI Resources:  Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family’s Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI’ for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount) Get a cheaper phone plan with Mint Mobile 

Freedom Before FIRE | Trip of a Lifestyle

In this episode: courage from community, what to do next, overwhelm, finding community, and the evolution of FI. Live from the EconoMe Conference in Cincinati Ohio, Brad is joined by Jordan "Doc G" Grumet and a room full of passionate members of our community to discuss finding the courage to take action in your FI journey. While we understand money can be a north-star for many early in your venture towards FI, what happens once money is no longer the root of your goals? Where do you shift your focus to next? Well, sometimes finding answers to these questions is a little easier when you have help from some of your friends. Listen along as Jordan, Brad and our community speculate on their ideas for what their next steps are. Doc G:   Website: earnandinvest.com  Podcast: The Earn and Invest Podcast  Timestamps:   0:41 - Introduction  1:41 - Courage From Community  7:40 - Roger and What To Do Next?  20:31 - Allison and Finding Community  30:15 - What/Where is the Overwhelm  34:49 - The Evolution of FI/Being The Change You Want To See  41:11 - Reconciling With Social Responsibilities  44:34 - Charitable Giving  47:21 - Interacting Outside of The Community  51:55 - Conclusion  Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:    Retire Often  FI Freedom Retreat  Mr Money Mustache  CampFI  FinCon   "Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life" by Bill Perkins  Josh Overmeyer  EconoMe  Alan Donegan  Find Your Local ChooseFI Group   Effective Giving for the FI Community | Rebecca Herbst & Jack Lewars | ChooseFI Ep 483  Subscribe to The FI Weekly!  More Helpful Links and FI Resources:  Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family’s Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI’ for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount) Get a cheaper phone plan with Mint Mobile     

488 | The Courage to Take Action | EconoMe LIVE with Doc G

In this episode: survivor benefit plans, VA benefits, VSO's disability benefits, tax planning, healthcare, and blended retirement systems. This week we are joined by Daniel Kopp, founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning, to outline ways you can best prepare for military retirement. Together we cover pensions, navigating the Survivor Benefit Plan and additional benefits, healthcare and disability resources, as well as other financial decisions you can consider as you begin to transition out of the military. When dealing with any kind of retirement planning, taking actionable steps to prepare and get a plan in place for you and your family is essential. While everyone's circumstances may be different as they transition out of the military, there are many resources available and benefit programs you are entitled to before and after you leave duty! Daniel Kopp, CFP   Website: wisestewardshipfp.com  Podcast: Military to Financial Planner  Timestamps:  1:26 – Introduction 2:32 – Approaching Military Retirement/Blended Retirement System 9:38 – Military Benefits/Healthcare 15:36 – VA Benefits/Term Life Insurance 22:12 – Disability Benefits/VSO’s 30:17 – Survivor Benefit Plans 43:13 – SBP Contingencies and Child Coverage 50:41 – Tax Planning 56:26 – Conclusion  Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:  Blended Retirement VA education benefits for survivors and dependents Everything About The Military’s Survivor Benefit Plan SBP Financial Analysis Tools Daniel Kopp Estate Planning for Military Families | Military Money Manual Podcast Episode 83 Accredited VSO Representatives  Transition Planning from a Military Career on the Path to FI | ChooseFI Ep 296  “Military in Transition’s Guide to The Survivor Benefit Plan: Navigating the SBP” by Forrest Baumhover  How VA Disability Compensation Affects Military Retirement Pay  Income Tax and Rental Properties When You’re in the Military MFAA ChooseFI US Military Subscribe to The FI Weekly!  More Helpful Links and FI Resources:  Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family’s Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI’ for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount) Get a cheaper phone plan with Mint Mobile  

487 | Military FI: Optimizing Your Financial Plan before Military Retirement | Daniel Kopp, CFP

In this episode: public service accounts, side hustles, making FI possible, frugality, giving yourself freedom, and side hustles. This week we are joined by Chris Travers, a New York City public school teacher and FI community member, to discuss his journey from being a natural saver to becoming a savvy investor, talk advantages and disadvantages of some of the retirement accounts provided to teachers, as well as discuss some ways he has been able to grow his net worth in the last 10 years. Frugality is a term that often comes up while on the FI path, and finding a balance of saving and spending is crucial to reaching your financial goals. Remember that where you decide to save and spend and how you do so will evolve throughout your FI journey! While it can be hard to cut costs of the things you enjoy in the present, being willing to cut out what you don’t need can set you up for success in the future!   Chris Travers:  Book: “TL;DR: Financial Literacy for New York City Public School Teachers: Optimizing Financial Decisions Based On Your TRSNYC Benefits” by Christopher Tavers and Karl Fisch Instagram: @thewealthyeducator  Timestamps:  0:54 – Introduction 6:47 – Public Service Accounts 11:38 – Diving Into FI 15:08 – Side Hustles/Making FI Possible 22:17 – Renting vs Buying 26:43 – Frugality and Loosening the Purse Strings 32:25 – Giving Yourself Freedom 37:53 – Conclusion  Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:  Join ChooseFI’s Facebook Group!  “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko  “Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!” by Robert Kiyosaki  “Smart Couples Finish Rich, Revised and Updated: 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner” by David Bach The Unfair (FI) Advantage Of Teachers | 457b | ChooseFI Ep 13 The Happy Body Millennial Revolution  Karl Fisch Subscribe to The FI Weekly!  More Helpful Links and FI Resources:  Top 10 Recommended Travel Rewards Credit Cards Empower: Free Dashboard to Track Your Finances CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account M1 Finance: Commission-Free Investing, 1-click rebalancing CashFreely: Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards Travel Freely: Track all your rewards cards and points Emergency Binder: For Your Family’s Essential Info (code ‘CHOOSEFI’ for 20% off) Student Loan Planner: Custom Consult (with $100 Discount) Get a cheaper phone plan with Mint Mobile 

135R | The Plot Thickens

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