BiggerPockets Money

Mark's net worth has jumped from $1.5 million to $2.7 million in just four years, and his rental portfolio has grown to 14 doors. But now he's facing a new challenge: moving closer to family near Orlando without becoming house poor or derailing his financial independence. Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench help him weigh renting before buying, deciding which rental properties to keep or sell, and navigating the tax consequences. They also reveal the biggest driver behind Mark's wealth growth, and it's not necessarily real estate.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you go from $90,000 in debt to a $2.5 million net worth and Coast FI? Ericka Young, a financial coach, joins BiggerPockets Money to share how she and her husband paid off $90K in debt in just five years and built wealth through budgeting, consistent investing, and growing their income.Ericka breaks down the debt snowball strategy that helped them get out of debt, why boring index fund investing worked, and how she turned financial coaching into a business. Now that she’s reached Coast FI and built a $2.5 million net worth, she’s facing a new question: should they pay off their mortgage or buy a vacation rental?To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Ericka Young-Website: https://www.erickayoung.com/Social: https://www.instagram.com/erickayoungofficial/?hl=enFor Better or Worth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-better-and-worth/id16654812We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when an energy shock sends oil prices soaring? The ripple effects can reach far beyond the gas pump, driving up the cost of groceries, transportation, and everyday goods while putting the Federal Reserve in a difficult position on inflation and interest rates.In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money, host Scott Trench and longtime guest J Scott break down the economic domino effect of energy supply shocks and how disruptions in global energy markets can affect inflation, mortgage rates, household finances, and the broader economy. They explain how oil futures react almost immediately, why gasoline prices can take one to two weeks to respond, and how the effects can spread through supply chains for months or even years. They also explore how tariffs and deglobalization could intensify economic pressures, why energy-importing countries may face greater risks than the United States, and whether the Federal Reserve can control inflation without slowing economic growth. Tune in to understand how energy shocks move through the economy, what policymakers can realistically do about them, and how to think about the financial consequences for your household.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with J Scott: https://linktr.ee/jscottinvestorWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the key to a better retirement isn't saving more, but learning when it's safe to spend more? Financial planner Aubrey Williams breaks down retirement guardrails, a flexible withdrawal strategy that helps early retirees adjust spending based on portfolio performance instead of relying on a fixed withdrawal rate. Using a $1 million portfolio, he explains how to balance market risk with the often-overlooked risk of underspending and missing out on life while you're still young enough to enjoy it.The goal is to spend confidently, adapt when markets change, and make the most of the money you've worked so hard to save.To go beyond the podcast:Listen to the Full Episode (671): https://youtu.be/VSffAvPaxFEInterested in working with a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsFollow BiggerPockets Money on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can Gen Z still achieve financial independence and retire early (FIRE) in 2026? On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, co-hosts Evan Lawler and Scott Trench break down whether Gen Z faces a tougher path to financial freedom than millennials. They examine housing affordability, career income growth, spending habits, side hustles, and the three key factors behind every FIRE plan: earning more, spending less than you make, and investing for long-term returns.Whether you're in your 20s, building wealth, or planning for early retirement, this episode offers practical insights to help you make smarter financial decisions, set realistic FIRE goals, and build a financial independence plan that can withstand an uncertain economy.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Evan Lawler:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_financialfoundation/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_FinancialFoundation We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Scanlan, better known as the Financial Tutor, joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to share how he went from house hacking in Chicago to building nearly $2 million in net worth by age 32 and leaving his six-figure corporate job. He breaks down how buying and renovating a three-unit property helped accelerate his wealth, how side hustles grew into a new career, and why he ultimately decided to sell the property. Now, with a growing family and more than $500,000 in proceeds from the sale, Kevin faces a new question: should he invest the money, pay down his mortgage, or build a business? It's a candid look at Coast FI, real estate investing, entrepreneurship, and what financial freedom actually looks like when your priorities start to change.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Kevin Scanlan:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialTutorWebsite: https://www.kevinfinancialtutor.com/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can you have a $3.8 million net worth and still have zero cash available? In this episode of BiggerPockets Money, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench help a couple navigate a financial puzzle involving wealth tied up in real estate and retirement accounts, significant medical expenses, and a cash flow shortfall. They explore strategies for accessing money early, including Roth conversions, the 72(t) rule, and real estate sales, while considering healthcare costs, ACA subsidies, and tax implications. If you're planning for early retirement, this case study shows why having a high net worth isn't always the same as having money you can actually spend.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the massive investment in AI worth the cost? In this Best of BiggerPockets Money episode, Aswath Damodaran breaks down the trillions being poured into AI infrastructure, the revenue needed to justify that spending, and the risk of an AI investment bubble. Learn how to evaluate AI stocks, understand Big Tech valuations, and manage investment risk without trying to time the market.To go beyond the podcast:Listen to the Full Episode (780): https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/podcast/aswath-damodaran-why-ai-needs-10-trillion-in-revenue-to-work/Interested in working with a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Get 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsFollow BiggerPockets Money on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lifestyle inflation can quietly derail your path to financial independence, but does spending more as your income and life change have to be a bad thing? Scott Trench and Evan Lawler break down how spending changes through different stages of life, what the data says about future expenses like housing and childcare, and how to build a realistic financial independence or Coast FI plan. They also explore the FI community’s shift away from extreme frugality and how to use data, flexibility, and better spending expectations to build wealth without sacrificing your quality of life.To go beyond the podcast:Check out the Budget Calculator from this episode: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/budget/Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Evan Lawler:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_financialfoundation/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_FinancialFoundationWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Eli Breece from Dividendology to unpack dividend growth investing and how it compares to traditional index fund investing. They discuss sequence of returns risk, dividend sustainability, free cash flow, valuation, bear markets, and how to evaluate dividend growth stocks. Eli also explains why he believes dividend investing can be a powerful approach to building long-term wealth and creating retirement income, while Mindy and Scott bring their own skepticism to the strategy.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsConnect with Eli Breece:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dividendologyWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench explore how you can use AI to make better financial decisions and move closer to financial independence. They share practical ways to ask better questions, give AI the right context, stress test your financial plan, and even develop an investment thesis. Plus, they talk about where AI can help and why you still need to double-check its work.To go beyond the podcast:Interested in a Flat Fee Financial Planner? Go to https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/fipro/Interested in Learning More About Buying a Franchise? Check out: biggerpocketsmoney.com/franzyGet 50% Off Your First Year of Monarch by using code ‘Pockets’: https://www.monarch.com/pocketsWe believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.