BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Financial Independence Through the Unthinkable: A Healthcare Crisis

Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench for a powerful conversation with Regina Moore [https://womenspersonalfinance.org], who achieved millionaire status before 35 through frugality and her career as a pharmacist. But when her young son was diagnosed with cancer, everything changed. In this deeply personal episode, Regina opens up about how a healthcare crisis tested her Lean FIRE plan in ways she never anticipated. And how financial independence—despite not being a perfect shield—gave her family options during their hardest moments. Her family was placed in an incredibly difficult position due to subsidy cliffs. The conversation highlights the practical realities Regina and others face, examines the structural challenges within current healthcare policy, and discusses potential solutions. This episode covers: * How achieving FI before crisis provided crucial flexibility * The ACA subsidy cliff and impossible financial trade-offs * Adjusting FIRE plans when life doesn't go as expected * Why she's still grateful she achieved financial independence * Systemic healthcare issues  A must-listen for anyone pursuing financial independence who wants to understand what happens when real life tests your plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Ultimate Guide to Early Retirement Drawdown (2026)

Building a $2.5 million portfolio is hard. Spending it without running out? That's even harder. Welcome to the 700th episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com]! To mark this milestone, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are tackling one of the most critical—and most overlooked—aspects of financial independence: decumulation [https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/early-retirement-withdrawal-strategies-for-the-long-haul]. Most people obsess over building wealth but stumble when it's time to actually spend it. The withdrawal strategy you choose can mean the difference between a comfortable 40-year retirement and running out of money at the worst possible time. In this episode, we cover: * Sequential vs. blended vs. cyclical [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U2HUHQ4gqk] withdrawal strategies—which is right for you? * How to create a tax-efficient drawdown plan that could save you hundreds of thousands * The role of Roth accounts [https://www.schwab.com/ira/roth-ira/withdrawal-rules?src=SEM&ef_id=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaylC5gxvdNqxRdpZ86GNIx4tkorU-hbn6lH3x-eWDWP7ZyrMum-huf0aAvgjEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!5158!3!652715846127!p!!g!!rules%20for%20a%20roth%20ira!194428220!31658491820&keywordid=kwd-33961326698&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=194428220&gbraid=0AAAAADhoFlm5E11YIFIJ9UYDnLKoxUn9N&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaylC5gxvdNqxRdpZ86GNIx4tkorU-hbn6lH3x-eWDWP7ZyrMum-huf0aAvgjEALw_wcB], traditional IRAs, and taxable brokerage accounts in your withdrawal strategy * When to do Roth conversions and how to time them for maximum benefit * Healthcare planning in early retirement and how it affects your withdrawal strategy * Estate planning considerations and maximizing what you leave behind * Real-world scenarios: what withdrawal strategies look like in practice * The biggest mistakes retirees make in the decumulation phase Whether you're just starting your FI journey or you're ready to retire next year, this comprehensive guide will help you spend your money strategically, minimize taxes, and make your nest egg last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Case for Blended (Instead of Sequential) Drawdown for Early Retirees

Are you using the wrong retirement withdrawal strategy? Sequential drawdown [https://www.spw.com/insights/sequencing-risk-in-retirement/]—draining one account before touching the next—is the most common approach to early retirement, but it could be costing you tens of thousands in unnecessary taxes. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money [https://biggerpocketsmoney.com] Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Enrolled Agent Mark to break down tax-efficient withdrawal strategies that maximize your retirement savings. Discover blended drawdown strategies and cyclical drawdown methods that optimize which accounts you tap first—Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, taxable brokerage, HSA—to minimize your lifetime tax burden. This episode covers: * Sequential vs. blended vs. cyclical retirement drawdown strategies * How to optimize withdrawal order from retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth, taxable accounts) * Tax-efficient retirement planning for early retirees and FIRE followers * How to leverage today's historically low tax rates [https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/historical-income-tax-rates-brackets/] before they expire * Healthcare costs in early retirement (ACA subsidies, Medicare planning) * Asset protection and estate planning considerations * Roth conversion strategies during low-income years * How to avoid costly tax mistakes in the decumulation phase Whether you're planning for financial independence, already retired early, or managing multiple retirement accounts, this tax optimization masterclass will help you keep more of your money and make your nest egg last longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

If We Started FIRE Over in 2025, Here's Exactly What We'd Do

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 [https://www.amazon.com/Set-Life-Dominate-American-Dream/dp/0997584718] his way to financial independence, while Mindy and her husband were deep into their FIRE journey documenting it all on their blog [https://www.1500days.com]. Fast forward to 2025—both are financially independent, but if they were starting from scratch today, they'd make some serious changes. Welcome to the BiggerPockets Money Podcast! In this episode, Scott and Mindy reveal what they'd do differently starting their FI journey in 2025. The fundamentals still work—frugality, saving, investing—but the tactical strategies? Those have evolved dramatically. In this episode, we cover: * The real estate strategies Scott would prioritize in today's market * Stock investments and portfolio allocation for 2025 * How AI and technology are reshaping the path to FI * The biggest regrets—including times they wish they'd spent MORE * What still works from 2013 vs. what's completely outdated * Lifestyle changes they'd make earlier in the journey * Updated timelines and expectations for achieving FIRE today Whether you're just starting out or already on track to financial independence, this episode gives you a fresh roadmap for building wealth in today's world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Does Money Buy Happiness? What the FIRE Community Gets Wrong

What happens after you achieve financial independence [https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/]? Former Facebook employee turned comedian Paul Ollinger [https://www.paulollinger.com/] 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 nobody talks about (and why having a plan is non-negotiable) * How he navigated major financial decisions in high-cost cities like New York without sacrificing his goals * The truth about happiness and wealth—does more money actually make you happier? * How to prepare for life's unexpected curveballs that can derail even the best financial plans And SO much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]