The Ultimate Guide to Healthcare Costs for FIRE

The Ultimate Guide to Healthcare Costs for FIRE

Healthcare is one of the biggest unknowns in any FIRE plan. If you're considering early retirement, self-employment, or leaving a traditional job, understanding health insurance costs could save you thousands of dollars per year and prevent costly planning mistakes. In this episode, we break down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, premium tax credits, MAGI planning, and how healthcare costs vary by state. We also walk through a healthcare cost estimator tool that can help you project future expenses and build a more resilient financial independence plan. Resources Featured in the Episode: * Healthcare Cost Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/healthcarecosts/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/healthcarecosts/] * 2026 Tax Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/income-tax-projection/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/income-tax-projection/] * How Health Insurance Works in Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/how-health-insurance-works-in-early-retirement-and-self-employment-2026/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/how-health-insurance-works-in-early-retirement-and-self-employment-2026/] * How to Plan for Healthcare Over Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/planning-for-healthcare-costs-over-a-decades-long-early-retirement/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/planning-for-healthcare-costs-over-a-decades-long-early-retirement/] To go beyond the podcast: * Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/] * Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  * Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney [https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney] We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Mortgage Rates Jumping from 4% to 8%: What Should This Investor Do?

How do you build nearly $1 million in net worth while working seasonally, living intentionally, and creating a lifestyle you actually enjoy? In this episode, Heather shares her remarkable journey from living in a 300-square-foot cabin to building substantial wealth through nursing, guiding, rental properties, and smart financial decisions. We break down her real estate portfolio, income streams, and the challenges that come with balancing financial independence and life goals. With mortgage rates potentially doubling from 4% to 8%, Heather faces several important decisions: Should she pay off rental debt, refinance, sell properties, or preserve flexibility for a future sabbatical? We explore the numbers, the emotional side of real estate ownership, cash reserve strategies, tax considerations, and how to create a financial plan that supports both long-term wealth and personal freedom. Whether you're building wealth through real estate, planning a career break, or navigating major financial decisions, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/] Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney [https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney] We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Financial Independence Step Most People Forget: Estate Planning

Most people know they should have an estate plan, but keep putting it off. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and special guest Carl Jensen sit down with estate planning attorney Skipton Reynolds to break down everything you need to know about wills, trusts, probate, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, guardianship planning, and estate taxes. Whether you're a young adult, a parent, a high-net-worth investor, or someone pursuing financial independence, estate planning is one of the most important financial moves you'll ever make. Learn how to protect your assets, avoid costly probate mistakes, ensure your loved ones are cared for, and create a plan that reflects your wishes. Connect with Skipton Reynolds: * Website: https://www.skiptonlaw.com/ [https://www.skiptonlaw.com/] To go beyond the podcast: * Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/] * Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  * Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney [https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney] We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Katie Wants to Quit Her Job. Can They Afford It?

In this Finance Friday episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench analyze whether Katie can step back from work while still making sure that her husband, Jesus, can retire early at 50. They break down the FIRE math, withdrawal strategies, healthcare considerations, market risk, pension benefits, and the emotional challenges of leaving a high-income career. Whether you're planning for early retirement, wondering if your portfolio is large enough, or trying to decide when to leave a stressful job, this episode provides practical insights and actionable retirement planning strategies. To go beyond the podcast: * Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/] * Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  * Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney [https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney] We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What to Do When Most of Your Wealth Is in Company Stock

If you work at a startup or public tech company and have RSUs, stock options, founder shares, or a potential IPO on the horizon, this episode could save you thousands—or even millions—in taxes. Equity compensation can be one of the fastest paths to building wealth, but it can also lead to costly mistakes if you don't understand the tax implications, liquidity opportunities, and diversification decisions involved. That's why we sat down with Equity for the Win founders CJ Sturmitz and founding investor Toby Johnston to discuss how employees and founders can navigate concentrated stock positions and prepare for major liquidity events. Connect with CJ and Toby Johnston * To work with EquityFTW: https://www. [https://www.keystonecpa.com/pages/about-us]biggerpocketsmoney.com/equityftw * About EquityFTW: https://www.equityftw.com/about To go beyond the podcast: * Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/] * Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  * Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney [https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney] We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you’re starting. Let’s get your financial house in order! - BiggerPockets Money (operated by Early Retirement Group, LLC) has a paid promotional arrangement with Equity FTW. Under this arrangement, Equity FTW pays BiggerPockets Money a cash fee of $100 for each prospective client who books a meeting with Equity FTW and is attributed to BiggerPockets Money, including through links on our website, references in our podcast, and other BiggerPockets Money channels. BiggerPockets Money is not a client of Equity FTW and is not an investment adviser, and nothing on this page or in any BiggerPockets Money content constitutes investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. This compensation arrangement creates a material conflict of interest, because BiggerPockets Money has a financial incentive to promote Equity FTW and to encourage listeners and readers to book meetings, regardless of whether Equity FTW's services are appropriate for any particular individual. The opinions expressed in BiggerPockets Money content are editorial; however, listeners and readers should consider this financial relationship when evaluating any statements about Equity FTW or its services. Equity FTW is solely responsible for the financial planning and advisory services it provides to its clients, and any decision to engage Equity FTW should be made based on your own independent evaluation and, where appropriate, consultation with your own qualified advisors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]