Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families

Andy Hill welcomes back JL Collins—often dubbed the “Godfather of FI”—to discuss the updated and expanded edition of his bestselling book, The Simple Path to Wealth. Together, they demystify investing, discuss the power of index funds, and share how building FU Money can unlock freedom and solopreneur dreams. JL shares lessons from 50 years of market data and why “set it and forget it” is still the winning strategy. RESOURCES: * ⁠Sponsors + Partners + Deals⁠ [https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors] * The Simple Path to Wealth (book): ⁠https://amzn.to/3ZnqLD4 [https://amzn.to/4jOuh1n] (affiliate) Chapters 00:00 – The Simplest Investing Advice You’ll Ever Hear 00:36 – Why So Few People Invest in the Stock Market 01:53 – Why Investing Feels So Complicated (Thanks, Wall Street) 03:06 – Index Funds 101: Why They Work 04:57 – How Index Funds Are Self-Cleansing 06:10 – Avoiding Analysis Paralysis: Stick to One Fund 08:17 – Do You Need to Switch Brokerages for Better Funds? 09:30 – Should You Add International Stocks? JL’s Take 12:02 – Set It and Forget It: The Power of Automation 15:42 – The “Tweaky Path” vs. The Simple Path 16:16 – Filtering Out Financial Fear in the Media 20:22 – Investing: A Psychological Game 22:45 – 50 Years of Market Returns: What the Data Really Says 27:48 – FU Money: Your Runway to Solopreneurship and Freedom 29:42 – Buying Freedom vs. Buying Stuff 31:47 – Is This Time Really Different? (Spoiler: It’s Not) 33:46 – Planning for Black Swans? Or Betting on the 99%? 35:25 – How to Get Started Today: One Simple Step 36:48 – Where to Find the Updated Book and More Resources MKM RESOURCES: * ⁠MKM Coaching [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/coaching]⁠: Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today. * ⁠Coast FIRE Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/]⁠: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. * ⁠Mortgage Payoff Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/]⁠: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free. * ⁠YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney]⁠: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES): * ⁠Monarch Money⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney] - Best Budget App for Families & Couples * ⁠Empower⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower] - Free Portfolio Tracker * ⁠Crew [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew]⁠ - HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link * ⁠Ethos [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ethos]⁠ - Affordable Term Life Insurance * ⁠Trust & Will [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/trustandwill] ⁠- Convenient Estate Planning HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: * This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. * Opinions are the creators alone. * Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. * Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: * Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson * Editor: Johnny Sohl * Podcast Support: Nev Maraj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Andy Hill sits down with bestselling author and digital entrepreneur Pat Flynn to discuss how "lean learning" can help overwhelmed parents and solopreneurs cut through the noise, focus on what really matters, and take meaningful action. Pat shares how absorbing less information — but more intentionally — can lead to quicker progress, stronger results, and more time for what truly matters: family, health, and creativity. Whether you're starting your first business, juggling multiple podcasts, or just looking to reclaim some peace of mind, Pat’s approach to learning less but achieving more might be just the antidote you need. Resources: * ⁠Sponsors + Partners + Deals⁠ [https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors] * Lean Learning (book): ⁠https://amzn.to/3Hs6JkG [https://amzn.to/4jOuh1n] (affiliate) Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Lean Learning and Overcoming Information Overload 01:40 – Meet Pat Flynn: Entrepreneur, Author, Father, and Back to the Future Fan 04:12 – How Information Obesity is Slowing Us Down 06:25 – What is Lean Learning? A Golf Story That Explains It All 08:26 – Public Speaking, Force Functions, and Learning One Skill at a Time 10:42 – The Microsoft Word Ebook That Made $200K: Just-in-Time Learning in Action 12:42 – The Double Meaning of “Lean” and the Power of Focus 13:50 – What Should Solopreneurs Do With Their Newfound Time? 14:55 – The “One-One-One” Strategy for Starting a Business 17:09 – Solopreneur Pitfalls: Fear, Procrastination, and Why We Over-Plan 19:10 – Fishing with One Jig: A Metaphor for Mastery 21:17 – Alternatives to Information Overload While Driving or Exercising 23:36 – Why Taking Action > Passive Learning 25:37 – Where to Find Pat’s Book “Lean Learning” 27:00 – Why Focusing on One Project at a Time Delivers Faster Results 29:00 – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts MKM RESOURCES: * ⁠MKM Coaching⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/coaching]: Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today. * ⁠Coast FIRE Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/]⁠: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. * ⁠Mortgage Payoff Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/]⁠: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free. * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney]: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES): * ⁠Monarch Money [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney]⁠ - Best Budget App for Families & Couples * ⁠Empower [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower]⁠ - Free Portfolio Tracker * ⁠Crew [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew]⁠ - HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link * ⁠Ethos [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ethos]⁠ - Affordable Term Life Insurance * ⁠Trust & Will [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/trustandwill] ⁠- Convenient Estate Planning HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: * This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. * Opinions are the creators alone. * Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. * Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: * Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson * Editor: Johnny Sohl * Podcast Support: Nev Maraj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Samme from Chicago recently became debt free. She and her husband now have extra money. Should they pay off their mortgage, save or invest? Andy shares his thoughts. Andy also interviews Brittany Flammer, a financial coach, YouTuber, and mom of five, who has grown her family’s net worth to over $850,000 by age 39—despite a modest household income. 👩‍👧‍👦 Brittany shares: * How she and her husband prioritized financial freedom over flashy spending * The smart money habits that helped them grow their net worth on an average of $40K/year * How they're raising financially capable kids without fully funding college * Why giving, budgeting, and intentionality have been cornerstones of their success * Their roadmap to becoming millionaires soon Last but not least, Andy's son Calvin Hill joins for a Money Quiz. They are covering school coming to a close, net worth topics and enjoying summer. EPISODE RESOURCES: * Sponsors + Partners + Deals [https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors] * Brittany Flammer (website): https://brittanyflammer.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Use Your Money According to Your Values 00:25 – Welcome & Today’s Three-Part Show Outline 01:00 – Listener Question: Mortgage vs. Saving vs. Investing 02:24 – Sam’s Voicemail: Conflicted About Mortgage Strategy 03:20 – Breaking Down the 3 Options: Save, Invest, or Pay Off Mortgage 05:45 – How Much Emergency Savings is Enough? 07:30 – Coast FIRE Explained & Retirement Account Strategy 09:50 – When and Why to Pay Off Your Mortgage 11:30 – Step-by-Step Financial Independence Roadmap 12:38 – Net Worth Win Segment: Brittany Flammer Interview 13:40 – Brittany’s Motivation: Security & Freedom 15:00 – Building Wealth on a Modest Income 16:45 – Saving, Budgeting, and Investing from the Start 18:30 – Net Worth Breakdown: Cash, Investments, and Home Equity 20:15 – Reaching $858K Net Worth and Nearing $1M 21:00 – Generational Wealth: Teaching Kids About Money 24:45 – Budgeting, Saving, and College Planning with 5 Kids 27:00 – Teaching Generosity and the Habit of Giving 29:45 – Advice for Others: Just Get Started 30:59 – Where to Connect with Brittany Flammer 31:40 – Money Quiz Segment with Calvin 34:50 – Calvin's Money Lessons and Omnifix Cubes 35:35 – What Is Net Worth? Calvin’s $11K at Age 11 37:40 – How Many Days Are in Summer Vacation? 38:20 – Final Quote & Show Wrap-Up MKM RESOURCES: * MKM Coaching: [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/coaching] Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today. * Make My Kid a Millionaire Course [https://www.makemykidamillionaire.com/sa]: Want to build generational wealth and happiness for your kid? Learn more about my course! * Coast FIRE Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/]: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. * Mortgage Payoff Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/]: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free. * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney]: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES): * Monarch Money [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney] - Best Budget App for Families & Couples * Empower [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower] - Free Portfolio Tracker * Crew [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew]- HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link * Ethos [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ethos] - Affordable Term Life Insurance * Trust & Will [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/trustandwill]- Convenient Estate Planning HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: * This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. * Opinions are the creators alone. * Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. * Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: * Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa * Editor: Johnny Sohl * Podcast Support: Nev Maraj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this episode of the Marriage Kids and Money Podcast, Andy Hill is joined by Robert Farrington and Jordan Biesinger to explore two powerful financial topics: tackling student loan debt and achieving Coast FIRE. First, Robert Farrington, founder of The College Investor, shares urgent updates on the resumption of student loan default collections, what borrowers need to know right now, and smart strategies for managing debt amid confusing government changes. Then, we switch gears with Jordan Biesinger, a Coast FIRE success story. Jordan and his wife hit Coast FIRE in their 20s and chose to move to China for a simpler, more financially free life. He shares exactly how they did it—and how you can too. EPISODE RESOURCES Robert Farrington (Website): https://thecollegeinvestor.com [https://thecollegeinvestor.com] Jordan Biesinger (YouTube): https://youtube.com/@BiesingerFIREJourney [https://youtube.com/@BiesingerFIREJourney] CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - The Return of Student Loan Collections 02:50 - What Happens If You Default on Student Loans 04:20 - Forbearance vs. Default: Key Differences 05:45 - Don’t Count on Future Forgiveness 07:00 - The Trillion-Dollar Student Loan Problem 08:00 - The SAVE Plan: Dead or Alive? 09:40 - Using the Forbearance Window Wisely 10:40 - Alternatives to the SAVE Plan 12:00 - How to Find Out Who You Owe 13:40 - Increasing Income and Cutting Big Expenses 15:45 - Is College Still a Smart Investment? 18:00 - The ROI Reality of a College Degree 19:30 - Where to Find More Help from The College Investor 21:00 - Coast Fire Family: Jordan’s Journey Begins 21:45 - The Coast Fire 5 with Jordan 23:00 - How Real Estate and Frugality Fueled Their FIRE 25:30 - From Student Loans to Coast FIRE 27:00 - Index Funds and Simple Investing 28:30 - Income Growth Through Career and Side Hustles 30:00 - Life and Work Abroad After Coast FIRE 31:30 - Investing Beyond Retirement 32:30 - Teaching Financial Literacy to the Next Generation 33:45 - Why They Chose to Move to China 35:30 - Coast FIRE as a Path to Flexibility and Healing 36:30 - Life in China and Living Simply 37:30 - Final Advice for Achieving Coast FIRE MKM RESOURCES: * MKM Coaching [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/coaching]: Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today. * Coast FIRE Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/]: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. * Mortgage Payoff Calculator [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/]: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free. * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney]: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES): * Monarch Money [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney] - Best Budget App for Families & Couples * Empower [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower] - Free Portfolio Tracker * Crew [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew] - HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link * Ethos [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ethos] - Affordable Term Life Insurance * Trust & Will [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/trustandwill] - Convenient Estate Planning HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: * Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa * Editor: Johnny Sohl * Podcast Support: Nev Maraj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

We all know time is a finite resource. Why do we keep overallocating our time? It all feels like too much of what we're supposed to do and not enough of what we want to do. In this Bread & Wine episode, Andy and Nicole discuss how their time has been swallowed up recently, how they are fighting back, and how you can own your time, too.  MKM RESOURCES **Sponsors + Partners + Deals: ⁠https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors [https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors]⁠ ⁠Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/applepodcasts] ⁠Leave a Rating: Spotify⁠ [https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/spotify] ⁠Instagram [https://instagram.com/marriagekidsandmoney]⁠: Follow our IG channel OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE ⁠Die With Zero: When FIRE Meets YOLO⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/podcast/die-with-zero-when-fire-meets-yolo-bread-wine/] ⁠Reflecting on Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps 10 Years Later [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/podcast/dave-ramsey-baby-steps-bread-wine/]⁠ ⁠Are We Morons for Paying Off Our Mortgage Early?⁠ [https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/podcast/paying-off-our-mortgage-bread-wine/] DISCLAIMER This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson Creative Director / Show Director: Nicole Hill Editor: Andy Hill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]