What would you do differently if you could start your FIRE journey over today? Back in 2013, Scott was fresh out of college house hacking his way to financial independence, while Mindy and her husband were deep into their FIRE journey documenting it all on their blog. Fast forward to 2025—both are financially independent, but…

What happens after you achieve financial independence? Former Facebook employee turned comedian Paul Ollinger discovered the answer wasn’t what he expected—and it completely changed how he thinks about money, work, and happiness. This Episode Covers: Why financial autonomy beats wealth accumulation—and what that actually means for your daily life The psychological challenges of early retirement…

Will 2026 healthcare costs destroy your FIRE plan? Enhanced ACA tax credits expire in 2026—meaning health insurance premiums could DOUBLE or TRIPLE overnight. This healthcare subsidy cliff threatens millions who depend on affordable marketplace coverage. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench interview Matt McGough from KFF to break…

Think you need a six-figure salary to retire early? Think again. Middle school teacher Andrew Luman is achieving financial independence and retiring at 50—all on a teacher’s salary. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench unpack Andrew’s complete FIRE strategy, proving that early retirement isn’t reserved for high…

Time’s running out on 2025, and there are critical financial moves you need to make before December 31st. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy and Scott walk you through the essential year-end tasks that could save you thousands of dollars and keep your FIRE goals on track. These aren’t just suggestions—they’re time-sensitive…

Pay off your mortgage or invest? If you’re pursuing FIRE, you’ve wrestled with this question. A paid-off house means thousands extra in your pocket each month and a lower FIRE number. But investing that same money could build significantly more wealth and get you to FIRE with a bigger nest egg. So which strategy wins?…

Most people think index funds are the only path to financial independence—and they’ll get you there in 15-20 years. But what if you could get there faster? In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench team up with John Bowens from Equity Trust to reveal advanced portfolio strategies that can accelerate your FIRE timeline. This…

Paul has a $1.6 million net worth at 40 years old—impressive by any standard—but he’s stuck wondering: Can I retire in the next 5-6 years? In this episode of BiggerPockets Money, Paul shares his journey from debt payoff to building substantial rental income during COVID-19. Now he’s sitting on significant equity, strong cash flow, and…

You’re doing everything right—buying a house, maxing out your 401(k), investing in real estate—but what if these “smart” money moves are actually trapping you in your job? It’s the paradox plaguing the FIRE community: you could be a millionaire on paper but can’t afford to retire because all your wealth is locked up. Welcome to…

One rental property changed everything. Deandra was drowning—working multiple jobs, crushed by student debt, teaching full-time with no end in sight. Then she bought her first property with just $4,000, and within four years, she walked away from teaching forever. Today, Deandra reveals the exact strategy she used to go from broke teacher to financially…