Welcome back to the Building Your Money Machine Show! In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most popular and controversial trends in personal finance today: the FIRE movement — Financial Independence, Retire Early. After more than 30 years as a CPA, entrepreneur, and financial educator, I've witnessed countless people chase the dream of early retirement, only to find themselves back at work faster than a market crash.

Today, I'm digging into the 8 biggest problems with FIRE that no one’s really talking about. If you’ve ever thought about retiring early, or you’re already hustling toward financial independence, this episode will help you rethink your strategy so you don’t sacrifice the best years of your life for a number on a spreadsheet. I’m sharing real stories, personal experiences, and the specific pitfalls that can turn FIRE from financial independence into a life of frugality, stress, and missed opportunities.

Plus, I’ll be walking you through my lifestyle cost calculator—yours for free—so you can finally figure out what your freedom actually costs (hint: not the number you see on Instagram).

IN TODAY'S EPISODE, I DISCUSS:

• Why the extreme savings rates in FIRE are like financial crash dieting
• Wow chasing an early retirement number can actually train you to avoid joy in life
• Over-reliance on the 4% rule and market performance
• What really happens when your career suddenly stops
• Why FIRE isn’t equally accessible to everyone,
• What most FIRE advocates ignore about medical costs
• My four-step roadmap to financial independence

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• If You Don't Understand Bonds, You Don't Understand Money
• 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
• 8 Signs You're NOT Ready For The Upcoming Recession
• 40 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew in My 40s
• How to Build Your Financial Freedom Engine (Step-by-Step)

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU
 
If you liked this video, you'll love these ones:

• If You Don't Understand Bonds, You Don't Understand Money: https://youtu.be/7d9Lz0D0uzA
• 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Retired: https://youtu.be/t5DL9bZYRiw
• 8 Signs You're NOT Ready For The Upcoming Recession: https://youtu.be/Spnhr_Ecd0s
• 40 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew in My 40s: https://youtu.be/RUIh5osQigo

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Take this free quiz to see where you are on the path to financial freedom and what your next steps are to move you to a new financial destiny at http://www.YourFinancialFreedomQuiz.com