Catching Up to FI

Shopping Hacks For The Holidays | Trae Bodge | 183

Trae Bodge is one of the country's leading smart-shopping and personal-savings experts. You've probably seen her on CNBC and Good Morning America, or in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, and MarketWatch. She joins us on the show for a holiday-season intervention on spending, shopping, and gift-giving. Trae also shares news about her, mom-inspired Threadneedle Alley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants and guidance to midlife entrepreneurs facing financial challenges. Through Dec. 31, 2025, entrepreneurs ages 40 and up can apply for a $5,000 grant and ongoing mentorship [https://www.threadneedlealley.org/learn-more]. 🎁 🎁 🎁A Special Gift from our friend... The Mad Fientist (only through Dec 10th) Brandon Ganch's (aka The Mad Fientist [https://www.madfientist.com/]) is one of the early pioneers of the FI Movement and has shared his knowledge and brilliant resources with millions of people for over a decade. He will be featured on our holiday episode (releasing on 12/21/25). This holiday season he has a brand new beta software called Wealthmachines.co [https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ul6644lntoh3n7ogei2hdolgz66h7hmrl8p/reh8hohmxk7dm9h2/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2VhbHRobWFjaGluZXMuY28v], a complete system designed for financial independence that focuses on your assets and the income they generate. Even though he's brilliant at developing software, his real passion is music, and he has a new album coming out with a juicy offer! Until December 10th, he is gifting early access to you before it goes to a monthly subscription when you purchase his new album. Here's how you can support his passion and get his software: 1. Preorder his brand new EP Album for $4.99 before December 10th on Amazon Music [https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0G22NPN3N?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_NdnXkjVBS89lmMyAbdRYe5SE4] (or other music retailers) and follow him on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/3TzhBaTdEGnBajbk6OTLND?si=Vwo65xo9Q8yIkkAh5zJvqg] (help him get to 1000 subscribers) 2. Send a copy of the receipt to fi@madfientist.com [fi@madfientist.com] 3. Go to Wealthmachines.co [https://click.convertkit-mail2.com/r8ul6644lntoh3n7ogei2hdolgz66h7hmrl8p/reh8hohmxk7dm9h2/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2VhbHRobWFjaGluZXMuY28v] and click the "Get Access" link in the top right corner to get free access. Note: The public release won't be until 2027, but you'll be able to start using it as soon as it's ready. Also, you will NOT need to pay an annual fee once the app becomes publicly available (the annual fee will be more than the EP's cost, every single year)! DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS: 🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] The modern way to manage money! Monarch [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] and entering code: CATCHINGUP50 [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] Alloy [https://thealloymarket.com/] The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners [https://catchinguptofi.com/our-partners/] 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#newsletter] 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website [https://catchinguptofi.com/] 🔗Connect with us [https://linktr.ee/cutfi] ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchinguptofi] 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#voicemail] RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Charity: Threadneedle Alley [https://www.threadneedlealley.org/] 🌐 TrueTrae.com [https://truetrae.com/] If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CatchingUptoFI/videos]. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

Broke at 50 ➡️ Retired at 60! | BiggerPockets Crossover | 182

We love collaborations and this time we teamed up with Mindy and Scott from BiggerPockets Money to tackle a case study you don't want to miss: "How to go from Broke at 50 to Retired at 60!" This originally aired on BiggerPockets Money in August, and since then it received over 300,000 views and quickly moved up to the second most popular video on their YouTube Channel. Needless to say, this topic, got people talking! We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement! This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow, focusing specifically on Barb - a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Her situation represents millions of people who find themselves starting over financially in their fifties, whether due to divorce, job loss, or simply never having started saving for retirement. ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money The modern way to manage money! Monarch [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] and entering code: CATCHING50 [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] Alloy [https://thealloymarket.com/] The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link [https://thealloymarket.com/cutofi-x-alloy/] and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners [https://catchinguptofi.com/our-partners/] 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#newsletter] 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website [https://catchinguptofi.com/] 🔗Connect with us [https://linktr.ee/cutfi] ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchinguptofi] 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#voicemail] RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 🌐Bigger Pockets Money YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/@BiggerPocketsMoney [http://www.youtube.com/@BiggerPocketsMoney] ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

Drowning in Debt at 48, Retired at 58: Here's How She Did It! | Kim Hunter-Borst | 181

At 48, Kim Hunter-Borst was drowning in debt even though she had a solid New York income. Where was the money going? How did she fix it and reach early retirement by 58? We find out in this no-shame late-starter conversation that was recorded live in Bali at the FI Freedom Retreat (please excuse the background noise!) Kim was firmly in the messy middle and retraces the moment she decided to stop winging it. She shares some simple systems that finally stuck, and the handful of brave choices—asking for more at work, saying no to status buys, and saying yes to purpose—that changed her trajectory. In this candid interview, you'll also hear: 1. The money scripts Kim had to rewrite 2. The tools that actually helped 3. The joyful stuff she refused to cut while saving 4. How she healed her 'one more year syndrome' 5. What she's doing now to help others on their FI journey ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money The modern way to manage money! Monarch [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] and entering code: CATCHINGUP50 [https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/c/6701777/3401884/14860] Alloy [https://thealloymarket.com/] The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link [https://thealloymarket.com/cutofi-x-alloy/] and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners [https://catchinguptofi.com/our-partners/] 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#newsletter] 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website [https://catchinguptofi.com/] 🔗Connect with us [https://linktr.ee/cutfi] ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchinguptofi] 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#voicemail] RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Charities: Planned Parenthood [https://www.plannedparenthood.org] Charity Water [https://www.charitywater.org/] USA for UNHCR [https://www.unrefugees.org/] 🌐 Women Of FI [https://linktr.ee/WomenofFI] Kim's 2026 Women's Weekend just opened registration. Click here [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-of-fis-annual-womens-weekend-tickets-1816592068779?aff=CatchingUpToFI] for more information and tickets. Join WE Wealth Collective Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1G43xZesQR/?mibextid=wwXIfr] ChooseFI [https://choosefi.com/] Lydia Senn on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@thereallydiasenn] Scholly Scholarships [https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/scholly] EconoMe Conference [https://economeconference.com/] F.I.R.E. For Dummies [https://a.co/d/5EUwuiK] ⏰ 'Catching Up to FI' Episodes Live from Bali: Are They Really Retired? (Part 2) | Jackie & Doc G | 178 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/38728760] Live from Bali! Don't Miss These FI Stories From Around The Globe | Jackie & Captain FI | 176 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/38728635] The Power of Cash Flow Planning | Sarah-Catherine Gutierrez | 016 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/26887956] If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CatchingUptoFI/videos]. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

The Soul of Wealth | Dr. Daniel Crosby | 180

Dr. Daniel Crosby took a circuitous path to the world of money — starting as a psychologist and ending up as one of the most engaging voices in behavioral finance. He is Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion and author of The Soul of Wealth. Dr. Crosby goes beyond the math to the meaning: identity, autonomy, and why 'you don't really want to be rich, you want to be free.' He joins the show to talk us through: * Reframing money as a tool for time freedom, relationships, and purpose—not status * Using behavior science to close the gap between 'knowing' and 'doing' * Downshifting lifestyle creep and designing guardrails * Replacing 'I'll be happy when...', with habits, community, and a clear vision of your 'retirement cow' ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Alloy [https://thealloymarket.com/] The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link [https://thealloymarket.com/cutofi-x-alloy/] and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners [https://catchinguptofi.com/our-partners/] 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#newsletter] 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website [https://catchinguptofi.com/] ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchinguptofi] 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#voicemail] RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Charity: National Alliance on Mental Illness [https://www.nami.org/] 🌐 Standard Deviations podcast [https://www.standarddeviationspod.com/] Orion [https://orion.com/thought-leader/daniel-crosby] 📗 The Soul of Wealth [https://a.co/d/4WfpsT8] ⏰ 'Catching Up to FI' Episodes Doña Quixote, Life Energy, and The Coming of Aging | Vicki Robin | 94 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/32726267] Enoughness: Your Life or Your Money | Vicki Robin | 95 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/32726312] If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CatchingUptoFI/videos]. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

Contrarian Tax Planning Tips | Cody Garrett & Sean Mullaney | 179

Sean 'FI Tax Guy' Mullaney and Cody 'Measure Twice' Garrett are two of the smartest financial planning pros who are best known for sharing their deep knowledge in the financial independence community and beyond. They join us today to break down tax planning in a way you may not have ever heard before. They don't agree with some of the conventional advice and make a case for the contrarian views they share in their new book, 'Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement'. In this conversation, we dive into: 1. Top year-end tax tips for later starters 2. Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits 3. Drawdown principles 4. Moving through the 5 phases of retirement 5. How a little tax awareness can go a long way This discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Bill, Jackie, and the Catching Up to FI podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services. ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS=== 🆕NEW PARTNER: Alloy [https://thealloymarket.com/] The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link [https://thealloymarket.com/cutofi-x-alloy/] and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer). For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners [https://catchinguptofi.com/our-partners/] 📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!) [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#newsletter] 🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website [https://catchinguptofi.com/] 🔗Connect with us [https://linktr.ee/cutfi] ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee" [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/catchinguptofi] 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question [https://catchinguptofi.com/contact-us/#voicemail] RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 📘 Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement [https://a.co/d/f7Yolh6] --Cody Garrett 🌐 Measure Twice Money [https://www.measuretwicemoney.com/] 🌐 Measure Twice Planners [https://www.measuretwiceplanners.com/] 📺 Measure Twice YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MeasureTwicePlanners] --Sean Mullaney 🌐 FI Tax Guy [https://fitaxguy.com/] 🌐 Mullaney Financial & Tax [https://www.mullaneyfinancial.com/] 📺 FI Tax Guy YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SeanMullaneyVideos] 📕 Solo 401(k): The Solopreneur's Retirement Account [https://a.co/d/7Lgp5bS] 📄 UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 [https://www.ubs.com/us/en/wealth-management/insights/global-wealth-report.html] ⏰ 'Catching Up to FI' Episodes Tactical Tips and Tripwires: The DIY Financial Planner's Guide | Cody Garrett | 112 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/34560475] Year End Tax Planning | Sean Mullaney | 045 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/28499333] Music Money Man | Cody Garrett | 035 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/27984909] Life & Taxes | Sean Mullaney | 013 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/26686941] 72(t) Expert Tells All: No More Secrets About Early Withdrawals (Part 1) | Bill Stecker | 131 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/35866720] Cashing in on 72(t): The Goldmine of Early Retirement Rules (Part2) | Bill Stecker | 133 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/965474e8-0ed6-4527-a513-26a270f7ae31/id/36000610] If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CatchingUptoFI/videos]. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you! ⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.