BiggerPockets Money Podcast
For those who have money… or want more of it!Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench (from BiggerPocketsMoney.com) weekly for the BiggerPockets Money Podcast. Each week, financial experts Mindy and Scott interview unique and powerful thought leaders about how to earn more, keep more, spend smarter, and grow wealth.
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Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest? (Best Choice for FIRE)
<p>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?</p> <p>To help you decide, Scott built a brand-new mortgage calculator that accounts for interest rates, investment returns, and taxes. He and Mindy use it to analyze real-world scenarios—high mortgage balances, different life stages, various risk tolerances—proving there's no one-size-fits-all answer.</p> <...
How to Build a Tax-Efficient Portfolio (Advanced Strategies)
<p>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?</p> <p>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.</p> <p>This episode covers:</p> <p>Strategic allocation across your Roth IRA, HSA, and 401(k) to maximize tax advantages</p> <p>How to hold alternative investments like real estate, private equity, and crypto inside tax-advantaged accounts</p> <p>Tax loss harvesting st...
How Can Paul Fast Track to FIRE by 45? ($1.6M Net Worth)
<p>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?</p> <p>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 a critical question: What's the fastest route to FIRE?</p> <p>Hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench dive deep into Paul's complete financial picture—his income, expenses, real estate portfolio, and debt—to map out his optimal path to early retirement. Should he pay d...
How to Avoid (or Escape) the Middle-Class Trap and Retire Early
<p>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.</p> <p>Welcome to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In this episode learn what the middle class “trap” is, why it happens, and most importantly, how to escape it. Scott and Mindy use the example of 'Sam,' a diligent saver, to explain the practical strategi...
From Making $28,000/Year to FI in 5 YEARS
<p>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.</p> <p>Today, Deandra reveals the exact strategy she used to go from broke teacher to financially independent real estate investor. You'll hear how she leveraged house hacking to buy her first two-bedroom townhouse, scaled into multi-family properties, and discovered an overlooked rental strategy that produces killer returns while most investors ignore it.</p> <p>The best part? She's pr...
How The Top 1% Actually Invest (Not What You Think)
<p>The wealthiest 1% invest completely differently than you've been taught—and they definitely don't follow the advice most financial advisors give. In this episode of BiggerPockets Money, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Tad Fallows, co-founder of Long Angle, to reveal the real investment strategies of high-net-worth individuals and how they differ from the FIRE community's approach.</p> <p>This Episode Covers:</p> <p>The most common paths to joining the 1% (entrepreneurship, tech executive roles, and high-conviction investments)</p> <p>Why the ultra-wealthy favor index funds, private equity, and real estate over traditional investments</p> <p>Why hi...
You DON'T Need to Be "Debt-Free" to Reach FIRE
<p>Should you pay off all your debt before investing? Or is that costing you years of financial freedom?</p> <p>In this episode, we're tackling the debate that divides the FIRE community: aggressive debt payoff versus strategic debt management. We break down two real case studies to show you exactly when to prioritize debt payoff and when to invest alongside debt. You'll discover:</p> <p>The interest rate threshold where investing beats debt payoff (and why it matters)</p> <p>Student loan strategies that most people get completely wrong</p> <p>How to calculate whether you should pay off...
$90K in Debt to Coast FI with $1.5M (Here's the Blueprint)
<p>Ericka Young did what most people think is impossible—she went from 90k in debt to Coast FI with a seven-figure net worth. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, she's pulling back the curtain on how she did it.</p> <p>What You'll Learn:</p> <p>How to eliminate massive debt without living in total deprivation</p> <p>The debt snowball method in action (and why it works psychologically)</p> <p>When to stop paying off debt and start investing aggressively</p> <p>Investment strategies that built $2.5 million in net worth</p> <p>The mindset shift from "ge...
The FIRE Movement Is Dead! (What You Need to Know)
<p>Is the FIRE movement dead? In 2025, more people are catching on to the huge downsides of pursuing financial independence, retire early. Strict frugality, massive sacrifice, working harder than ever…is it really worth it to retire decades before everyone else? If you’re internally screaming, “Yes! Of course it is!” you’re in good company. Today, we’re talking about why FIRE is NOT dead in 2025 but why most Americans won’t achieve it.</p> <p>It’s easy to claim that the FIRE movement is dead in 2025 when inflation has been high, savings rates are low, and there’s economic uncerta...
The All Out Approach to Achieve FIRE in Your 30s (Median Income Earner)
<p>In this BiggerPockets Money episode, we break down the all-out approach to reaching Financial Independence and Retiring Early in your 30s. No tech salary required, no inheritance, no luck. Just aggressive saving, smart investing, and a willingness to optimize every dollar.</p> <p>We'll cover: </p> <p>The exact savings rate you need to hit FIRE in your 30’s</p> <p> How to maximize income without changing careers </p> <p>Where to cut expenses without feeling deprived</p> <p>Investment strategies that accelerate your timeline</p> <p>The lifestyle trade-offs that actually matter </p> <p>Real numbers: What it takes...
