BiggerPockets Money Podcast

You've hit financial independence—now what? How do you actually start spending the money you've spent years accumulating? Bill Yount reached FI at 60 after a 10-year journey, and he's figured out the answer.

Bill shares his complete decumulation strategy—the detailed plan he built with a flat-fee financial advisor to transition from wealth building to wealth preservation. This isn't just theory; Bill is actively living this plan and stress-testing it in real time.

This Episode Covers:

Bill achieving financial independence at age 60

The psychological shift from saving to spending after a decade of accumulation

How to build a comprehensive drawdown plan (and why Bill hired help)

Working with a flat-fee financial advisor vs. AUM advisors

Portfolio rebalancing when transitioning to retirement


Risk parity strategy and how it fits into retirement portfolios

Stress-testing your financial plan: running scenarios to ensure you won't run out

Social security timing decisions and optimization

Retirement withdrawal strategies: the 4% rule and alternatives

How much to actually spend in early retirement

Helping your kids build wealth without jeopardizing your own retirement

Financial independence for late starters: proof it's not too late after 50

Managing the emotional transition from accumulation to distribution phase

Investment strategy changes in decumulation

If you're approaching FI, already there and uncertain about spending, or starting your FIRE journey later in life, Bill's practical, well-planned approach shows you exactly how to transition from building wealth to confidently living off it.

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply here: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/contact/

Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarchmoney.com/

Connect with Bill Yount: 

Website: https://catchinguptofi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catchinguptofi/

Connect with Scott and Mindy:

Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/

Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/

Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/
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You're in your 50s, $50,000 in debt, and retirement at 65 feels impossible. We made this episode for you. Today, Mindy and Scott spell out the exact step-by-step plan to go from $50K in debt to a million-dollar retirement—even if you're starting over in your fifties.

Meet Nancy: a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with significant debt and zero savings. Her story represents millions of people starting over financially in their fifties due to divorce, job loss, or never having saved for retirement. But Nancy's situation isn't hopeless—and neither is yours.

This Episode Covers:

Nancy's starting point: $50K in debt, no savings, reentering the workforce in her 50s

The debt payoff strategy for people who are catching up to FI and how to prioritize which debts to tackle first

Income optimization tactics for your 50s: negotiating salary, side hustles, and career pivots

Smart expense cuts that don't feel like deprivation

Which retirement accounts to prioritize when you're behind (401k, IRA, HSA strategy)

Balancing debt payoff with retirement savings: when to do both simultaneously

The real numbers: how much Nancy needs to save monthly to hit $1 million by 65

Investment strategy for people with a shorter timeline to retirement

Why it's never too late—and the mindset shifts that make comeback possible

Don't give up on retirement—let's show you how to catch up!

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply here: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/contact/

Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarchmoney.com/

Connect with Scott and Mindy:

Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/

Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/

Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/
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What if you didn't have to save 70% of your income to retire early? What if you could hit a number in your 30s, ease off the gas, and still reach financial independence—without sacrificing your present life? That's Coast FIRE, and today's guest Andy Hill is the perfect example of how it works in real life.

Andy hit his Coast FIRE number in his late thirties, left his corporate job at 40, and now runs a successful part-time business that supports his family of four while giving him total control over his time. In this conversation, Andy breaks down his journey from W2 employee to entrepreneur, the specific Coast FIRE calculations that gave him confidence to leave, and how he built a business that prioritizes family first, income second.

This Episode Covers:

What Coast FIRE actually is and how it's different from traditional FIRE

Andy's path from corporate employee to hitting his Coast FIRE number in his late 30s

How Andy built the confidence to leave his W2 job at 40

Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur while supporting a family of four

Building a part-time business that generates enough income without the corporate grind

How Coast FIRE allows you to prioritize family and lifestyle now (not just in retirement)

Key lessons from Andy's book 'Own Your Time'

How to structure your life around what matters most

If traditional FIRE feels too extreme or you're tired of delaying life for decades, Coast FIRE might be the strategy you've been looking for. Andy's story proves you can have financial independence AND a life you love today.

Connect with Andy Hill:

Social: https://www.instagram.com/marriagekidsandmoney

Website: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/

Pre-Order ‘Own Your Time’ Now: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book/

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com

Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social:

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What if you're doing FIRE in the wrong order? Most people chasing financial independence are following steps that actually slow them down—and it could be costing you years of freedom. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the exact step by step order for achieving FIRE as fast as possible.

Whether you're just starting with your first emergency fund or you're already maxing out retirement accounts and wondering what's next, this episode gives you the complete roadmap. You'll learn which financial moves to prioritize, which to skip, and how to avoid the "middle-class trap" that kills most early retirement dreams before they happen.

This Episode Covers:

The correct financial order of operations for FIRE (step-by-step from $0 to early retirement)

Which retirement accounts to fund first (401k, IRA, Roth, HSA strategy)

High-interest debt payoff strategy that accelerates FIRE

When to start investing in taxable brokerage accounts

How to add real estate and cash-flowing investments to your FIRE plan

Mistakes that cost people years on their path to FIRE

If you're confused about what to do next on your FIRE journey, this is your complete checklist. No more guessing—just the fastest, most efficient path to financial independence.

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply here: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com/contact/

Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social:

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AI is revolutionizing how we build wealth and achieve financial independence. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down exactly how to use AI tools to accelerate your path to FI—from automating budgets and analyzing investments to generating income streams and optimizing your financial strategy. Discover which AI tools actually work for personal finance, how AI is changing job markets and earning potential, and practical ways to leverage this technology today. Whether you're new to AI or already experimenting, learn how to use artificial intelligence as your secret weapon for reaching financial freedom faster.

This Episode Covers:

How AI tools can accelerate your path to financial independence

Practical AI applications for budgeting and personal finance management

Using AI for investment research and strategy development

AI-powered income generation and side hustle opportunities

How AI is changing job markets and what it means for your career

Real risks and limitations of AI in financial decision-making

Future trends in AI and personal finance

How to stay ahead in the AI revolution without getting overwhelmed

Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, you'll walk away with actionable ways to use this technology to reach your financial goals faster.

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter: www.biggerpocketsmoney.com

Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social:

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