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For those who have money… or want more of it!
Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench (from BiggerPockets.com) weekly for the BiggerPockets Money Podcast. Each week, financial experts Mindy and Scott interview unique and powerful thought leaders about how to earn more, keep more, spend smarter, and grow wealth.
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There’s a “middle-class trap” that can keep anyone from FIRE—yes, even high-income earners. Today’s guest has a sizable nest egg that should allow her to retire early, but there are a few roadblocks in her way!
At forty-seven, Allie has already built a net worth of $3,800,000. She would like to retire, and most people would assume she has enough to retire, but there are two problems. First, she lives in Orange County, California, one of the most expensive areas in the U.S., and has no plans to leave. The other issue? She has no cash! All of her money is tied up in home equity and retirement accounts. To retire, Allie has a BIG bet to make—one that could have a multi-million-dollar impact on her portfolio!
Using Scott’s “Keep or Sell Your Home” worksheet, we’ll look at whether it would make more sense for Allie to keep or sell her Laguna Beach property. Will turning this home into a rental property give her the cash flow she needs, or is selling it and investing in the stock market the better long-term play? Tune in as we attempt to thread the needle and provide Allie with the best roadmap for a long, early retirement!
In This Episode We Cover
What Allie should do to reallocate her $3,800,000 nest egg and achieve financial freedom
What to do with money locked up in home equity and retirement accounts
Keeping your home as a rental property versus selling it and investing elsewhere
Creative ways to improve your cash position so that you can retire early
Building wealth with short-term rentals, live-in flips, and other real estate strategies
Escaping the “middle-class trap” of earning high income in a high-cost-of-living area
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Buy Scott’s Book, “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
Finance Friday: How the “Middle-Class Trap” Stops Your Early Retirement
(00:00) Intro
(01:00) Allie’s Money Journey
(03:36) Money Snapshot
(13:50) Retiring in Laguna Beach
(19:01) Keeping vs. Selling Her Home
(26:06) The BIG Bet on Real Estate
(34:01) Growing Cash & Renting Her Home
(43:41) Real Estate vs. Stocks
(52:02) What Should Allie Do?
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-585
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Is frugality overrated? Is hustle culture a waste of time? Do we over-save for retirement? You don’t have to look very far to find a hot take online, but is there some truth to these opinions? Today, we’ll wade through bad financial advice, bust common money myths, and (hopefully) find some personal finance tips we agree with!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Personal finance is personal for a reason. Spending, saving, and investing vary from one person to the next based on their habits, risk tolerance, and season of life. But how much advice is just flat-out wrong? In this episode, Mindy and Amanda Wolfe are breaking down some of the internet’s wildest views on money. First, we’ll share some of the biggest lies we were told about money when we started our financial independence journeys—like “the stock market is too risky” and “you should work until age sixty-five.”
Then, we’ll dive into seven controversial opinions and whether there’s any validity to them. Should FIRE-focused folks ever take work sabbaticals? Is a one or two-month emergency fund enough in 2024? Is being a lifelong renter ever a savvy move? Which takes do we oppose, and which advice is actually worth following? Stay tuned to find out!
In This Episode We Cover
The biggest lies about money Mindy and Amanda used to believe
Whether work sabbaticals are a smart use of money on the journey to FIRE
The case against budgets and why you probably have one (even if you think you don’t)
Whether Americans save TOO much money for retirement (and why!)
Why it’s not overkill to keep a six-to-twelve-month emergency fund in 2024
The costs of buying a house and whether renting is ever the better retirement play
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
BiggerPockets Money 97 - Intentionally Choosing the Path to Financial Independence with Financial Mechanic
BiggerPockets Money 110 - Systematically Increasing Income and Intentionally Decreasing Spending with A Purple Life
Amanda’s Website
Reach FIRE Faster with the Book “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
Do You Need Debt to Reach FIRE? How to Use Leverage to Build Wealth
(00:00) Intro
(00:58) Money Lies We Used to Believe
(03:25) Sabbaticals Are “Irresponsible”
(07:33) I Don’t Budget!
(11:47) We Save TOO Much
(19:54) Frugality Is Overrated
(25:45) Hustling Is a Waste of Time
(32:23) I’d Rather Rent Than Buy
(34:57) Your Emergency Fund’s Too Big
(41:42) Connect with Amanda!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-584
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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If you follow the almost unbelievable path of today’s guest, you, too, could achieve financial independence in your thirties. Would we recommend mimicking his strategy step-by-step? No! Because if you get it wrong, you could be further from FIRE than when you started. Only the most prudent, risk-tolerant, and financially savvy among us could do what Andrew Schrader did.
After racking up six figures in car loans and student debt, Andrew knew something needed to change quickly. Thanks to his financial discipline, he paid his debts down fast, but what would he now do with the money he was sending toward debt every month? After a coworker threatened to quit on the spot without a care in the world (the coworker was FI), Andrew knew exactly what his next goal was.
So, he set out to do the impossible: Stretch his dollar as frugally as possible, spending in a year what many Americans live off of for a month and taking calculated bets that he knew the risks of. His unbelievable journey to FI will have you squirming in your chair (like Mindy did!) as you hear what incredible lengths you can go to reach your financial goals WAY faster than most Americans.
In This Episode We Cover
How to reach financial freedom in your thirties by taking “calculated” risks
The exact method Andrew used to pay off $100,000 in debt
Why house hacking may be the single best decision for FIRE-chasers
Why Andrew put an entire home renovation on a credit card when he was close to broke
Emergency funds 101 and why it’s crucial to have money in the bank when buying real estate
Saving tons of money by cutting out a “category” every month
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
BiggerPockets Creative Financing Forum
Finding and Funding Great Deals
Raising Private Capital, Revised Edition
Wealth without Cash
Andrew’s YouTube Channel
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Grab "The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down"
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
House Hacking 101: What It Is and How to Get Started
Connect with Andrew
(00:00) Intro
(01:48) Stock Betting and $100K Debt
(04:12) Watching His Coworker FIRE
(07:16) Income and “Overtime”
(08:41) Taking SERIOUS Risk (BIG Reward!)
(16:21) 10Xing His Money
(19:46) Rock Bottom Expenses
(27:34) Building a Business
(36:45) Quit His Job?
(43:16) Make the RIGHT Bets
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-583
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Would you move abroad to reach FI faster? That wasn’t Brooklin Nash’s original goal when he left the US and began freelancing from afar. But now, years later, he realizes how much of a leg up he has financially by going all-in on “geo arbitrage.” He’s saving a boatload in Guatemala, paying less to live the life he loves, and enjoying a tiny tax bill. Now in his mid-thirties, he’s already Coast FIRE and works when and where he wants.
But Brooklin’s money story didn’t start so stable. Being raised in a home with “risky” finances, to say the least (pyramid schemes, gambling, etc.), left him scarred and constantly worrying about keeping enough money in the bank. Thankfully, he changed his ways and realized that making money, rather than just saving every cent, was crucial to becoming financially free.
He’s paid off a significant sum in student loans and did it all while making a very meager income. Then, he scaled from freelancing abroad to building an entire business, making a phenomenal income while living in a low-cost-of-living area. He’s living his dream life outside the US, making more money than Americans at home. Imagine what THAT can do for your FIRE number!
In This Episode We Cover
Using “geo arbitrage” to save more, invest more, and lower your cost of living
An almost unbelievable income tax exclusion Americans abroad can access
How Brooklin paid off $80,000 in student debt (even on a lower income)
Turning your freelancing work into a full-blown (and VERY high-paying) business
Why the optimal FIRE lifestyle may actually include working a few hours a day
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Beam Content
Try Baselane, the One Platform for All Your Property Banking & Finances
Reach FI Faster with “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
The Best (and Worst) States in the US to Retire in 2024 (FIRE Faster?)
Connect with Brooklin
(00:00) Intro
(01:00) Pyramid Schemes, MLMs, and Risky Bets
(04:35) Paying Off $80K Debt
(10:30) Finding FIRE and First $100K
(14:19) Freelancing to Boost Income
(16:40) Building His Business
(20:11) FIRE Progress
(26:40) Why Live in Guatemala?
(30:54) Investing from Abroad
(32:43) Geographic Arbitrage 101
(38:19) Connect with Brooklin!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-582
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Could a few years of aggressive saving put you in the fast lane for financial independence? Is the grind even worth it? Today’s guest was well on his way to a comfy retirement but had never thought about retiring early. Then he discovered the FIRE movement, and with just four years of all-out hustle, he was able to retire at fifty!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In 2020, Eric Reinholdt experienced a financial “awakening” that set him on a death march to FI and early retirement. For four years, he minimized his spending, maximized his savings, and threw every extra dollar at his investments. Today, he’s “chubby FI,” has a paid-off house, and is recently “retired”— working just ten hours per week on his own business while preparing to travel the world in 2025!
But was the glamorous destination worth the grueling journey? Should Eric have started earlier or slowed down to reach his FI number? Tune in to hear about the major lifestyle changes he and his wife made to accelerate retirement, the different levers he pulled to grow his nest egg, and the steps you might need to take if you want to replicate his success!
In This Episode We Cover
How this entrepreneur reached “chubby FI” by the age of fifty
When to slow down and enjoy the journey to financial independence
Flexing your “spending muscle” while saving for an early retirement
Why building your own business gives you a huge “buffer” for FIRE
Why you need monthly financial check-ins with your significant other
What Eric plans to do in retirement (and why he’s NOT giving up work entirely!)
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Buy Scott’s Book, “Set for Life”
Find Investor-Friendly Lenders
FIRE by 50: How to Have FUN on Your Journey Toward Early Retirement
(00:00) Intro
(01:25) Discovering FIRE
(05:01) Major Lifestyle Changes
(14:15) High Income + Low Expenses
(22:53) “Retired” at Age 50
(27:08) Eric’s Investment Portfolio
(33:35) Life in Retirement
(37:14) Connect with Eric!
(38:06) A “Cheat Code” for Wealth!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-581
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Is paying off debt or investing (and potentially using more debt) the best way to reach FIRE? The average American has $104,215 in mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and other debt. Where do YOU stand? If the end goal is FIRE, you need a game plan for your debt, in which case this episode is for you!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Not all debt is bad. When used responsibly, it can be a powerful tool that allows you to buy appreciating assets and hedge against inflation. Today, guest co-hosts Kyle Mast and Amanda Wolfe join our panel to share their thoughts on debt. We’ll share how much debt we each have (ranging from zero to millions), how our philosophies on debt have evolved, and how debt can ultimately help you reach FIRE.
But that’s not all. We’ll also discuss the types of bad debt that could derail your FIRE journey and the investments you don’t want to be stuck with during an economic downturn. We’ll even get into the most important financial protection against debt risk—savings and reserves—and why these funds should grow proportionally to your debt!
In This Episode We Cover
Paying off debt versus investing (and which strategy is best for FIRE)
Why well-leveraged debt is one of the best long-term hedges against inflation
The types of debt that could propel you toward an early retirement
“Bad” real estate investments you don’t want to be holding during a market downturn
The most irresponsible uses of debt (that you should avoid at all costs!)
Why you should always grow your savings and reserves in tandem with debt
How much debt WE have (and how our opinions on debt have changed)
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life”
Find Investor-Friendly Lenders
Pay Off Student Loans or Invest in Real Estate: Which Makes You Wealthier?
Connect with Kyle
Amanda’s Website
(00:00) Intro
(01:23) How Much Debt WE Have
(06:15) Paying Off Debt vs. Investing
(13:46) Starting Your FIRE Journey
(21:51) Debt Strategy 101
(31:38) “Unreasonable” Debt
(38:23) Bad Real Estate Investments
(46:48) Key Takeaways
(50:18) Connect with Kyle and Amanda!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-580
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Yes, it’s possible to retire early, even if you’re just now diving into the FIRE movement. Early retirement could be within reach whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, or fifties. Imagine having complete freedom in a decade or less: no office politics, no boss, and, best of all, no spreadsheets! That’s the life Arik Peterson built when he retired early at forty-four, leaving behind a demanding career in corporate investing.
After reading Mr. Money Mustache’s unmatched FIRE blog, Arik drastically changed his saving and investing habits, increasing his savings rate to seventy percent and redirecting his money into simple, steady investments many overlook. Today, his life looks vastly different—he spends his days fishing, biking, creating art, and working on DIY projects instead of staring at a computer screen, crunching numbers.
In this episode, Arik shares his complete strategy for reaching financial independence, why he’s skeptical of the 4% rule, his current investment choices, and how an unexpected layoff turned into his golden opportunity. Ready to ditch corporate America? Follow Arik’s plan!
In This Episode We Cover
Why you must increase your savings rate if you want to reach FIRE fast
The simple, low-cost investment Arik has in his early retirement portfolio
Why you don’t need to follow the 4% rule to finally quit your job and retire
Making money in retirement and living off of side income streams
Arik’s killer advice for Roth investing that could make you tax-free millions
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Live Long Live Often
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Get to FIRE Faster “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
What to Do Before You Quit the High-Pay & Benefits of Corporate World
(00:00) Intro
(00:58) Discovering FIRE
(02:11) A VERY Stressful Job
(04:58) Secret to Get to FIRE Faster
(08:35) “Obsessing” Over Money
(10:16) What He Invests In
(12:44) Ignore the 4% Rule?
(14:22) FIRE at 44!
(17:07) Connect with Arik!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-579
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Should you move to reach FIRE? And if so, where to? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain and revealing the best places to retire in the US in 2024. Living in one of these states could help fast-track financial freedom, and moving there for retirement could help your nest egg go further and improve your quality of life!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Alex Gailey, a lead data reporter at Bankrate, has ranked all fifty states for retirement based on five weighted “buckets” made up of dozens of crucial data points. Today, she joins the show to share her findings with us. Whether you’re looking to put down roots in a low-cost-of-living area or find a location that delivers your ideal retirement lifestyle, this list of states is a useful launching point for one of the most important life decisions you’ll ever make!
In this episode, you’ll learn how changing your address could accelerate your financial independence timeline and allow you to retire early. Alex will break down the five factors people value most in retirement—affordability, well-being, cost and quality of healthcare, weather, and crime. Stay tuned to find out which states came out on top and which states you might want to avoid. The results even surprised us!
In This Episode We Cover
Breaking down Alex’s list of best (and worst) states to retire in the US
How to accelerate your FI timeline simply by changing your address
The top five “buckets” that make up an ideal retirement destination
The most crucial factors to consider when choosing where to retire
How to take advantage of unique opportunities in high-cost-of-living areas
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Best and Worst States for Retirement
Alex’s Twitter/X
Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
How to Get PAID to Live in an Affordable City & Fast-Track Financial Freedom
(00:00) Intro
(01:26) Alex’s Criteria
(05:05) Best and Worst Places to Retire
(11:38) Biggest Surprises
(22:32) Retiring in an Expensive Area
(29:10) Connect with Alex!
(29:43) Accelerate Your FI Timeline!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-578
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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Are you saving TOO much for retirement (or early retirement)? Could you retire years sooner than you think? Will retirement expenses be even less than what you spend now, allowing you to reach FIRE faster with a smaller nest egg? Today, we’re getting into that exact question as Finance Friday guest Ethan asks how he can ensure he’s on the right track for early retirement by age fifty-five. And if you’re like Ethan, you could retire RIGHT NOW…but should you?
Ethan is spending a LOT of money every month. He’s got two kids in private school, extracurricular sports fees, pricey car payments, and a mortgage. The good news? He’s raking in cash at his high-paying tech job! His current expenses cost him nearly $20,000 per month, but this number could be cut in half (if not more) once his kids leave the house. This means that his FIRE number might be a fraction of what he thinks it has to be to retire early.
Speaking of early retirement, is it wise to leave such a high-paying career to sit on the beach all day? Ethan has the skills and the energy to make a sizable income, so what should he do instead of full-time work once he reaches early retirement? Should he transition to part-time consulting, focus more on rental property investing, or buy a business?
In This Episode We Cover
Why your FIRE number may be WAY off from what you need to retire early
The retirement expenses that disappear once your kids are out of the house
Making money in retirement and whether buying a hands-off business is your best bet
Planning for future weddings and how much you should set aside for your kid’s big day
Limiting your taxes by qualifying for real estate professional status (REPS)
Whether or not you’re keeping too much cash on hand (is the bank account interest worth it?)
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Support Today’s Show Sponsor, Connect Invest, the Alternative Way to Earn Passive Income Through Real Estate
Get on the Path to Early Retirement with “Set for Life”
Property Manager Finder
Dude ACTUALLY Withdraws From His 401(k) and Retires at 47 w/Eric Cooper
(00:00) Intro
(04:27) Money Snapsho
(12:44) Current Net Worth
(15:11) Work Less, Travel More?
(21:10) Early Retirement Expenses
(27:02) Buy Rentals for Retirement Income
(33:59) Paying Too Much in Taxes
(38:22) Downsizing Houses and Next Steps
(44:40) Saving for Future Weddings
(48:52) How Much Do You NEED to Retire?
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-577
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
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You can attack financial independence from one of two angles. You can create a strict timeline for achieving FIRE, or you can calculate your FIRE number and take your time with it. Which approach works best, and should you ever move the goalposts? Stay tuned to find out!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Scott and Mindy are reflecting on their journeys to financial freedom—how they started, set realistic objectives, and allowed those objectives to evolve. They’ll also share about the major “events” that propelled them toward their goals, the big lifestyle changes they have made since reaching financial independence, and the ONE thing they wish they had done differently!
Whether you’re starting from zero or already on your way to FIRE, there are some personal finance fundamentals you’ve got to master: lowering your expenses and increasing your income. This combination will allow you to save more money, multiply your investments, and accelerate your FI timeline. But that’s not all. You’ll also hear about the job “trap” that keeps so many people from reaching FIRE, and why time (NOT money) is the resource we’re all actually chasing!
In This Episode We Cover
The crucial figure you need to pin down before setting your FI timeline
Why time, not money, is the resource every FIRE-focused person really wants
When to move the goalposts on your quest for financial independence
The job “trap” that holds you back from FI (and how to get out of it!)
The two-pronged strategy that will accelerate your path to early retirement
Spending less and earning more (so that you have more money to invest)
Scott and Mindy’s number one “regret” from their aggressive pursuit of FI
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com
Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com
BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group
Buy Scott’s Book “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
BiggerPockets Money – Episode 563: Why Aren’t More “Normal” People Achieving FIRE?
(00:00) Intro
(00:49) The FI Timeline
(06:59) Lifestyle Changes After FI
(10:25) Getting Your Spending in Check
(17:14) Low Expenses + High Income
(24:40) Escaping the Job “Trap”
(31:04) Creating Milestones
(37:50) Share Your Journey with Us!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-576
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Everyone wants to become “work-optional” at some point. Having enough money in investments and the bank would allow you to choose the job you love most, whether that’s running your own business, working part-time, or today’s guest, Travis’ dream, becoming a mountain biking guide. With a solid salary, dual income, and no plans for kids, he and his wife are on the fast track to FIRE, but can they get there by his goal of forty years old?
Travis’ wife may have an option to get a significant salary bump, allowing them to travel the country while she works, and Travis stays making money from his computer. But, even this may not be enough to get them to the “work optional by forty” goal they had set out for themselves. Scott and Mindy believe they need a financial “oomph” to get them over the edge, but what’s the next best move?
Should he stop his retirement account contributions to have more cash to invest for early retirement? Should he perform a live-in flip to make more money on the side while working his job? Would a side hustle or part-time job bridge the investing gap between where they are and where they need to be? If you’re stuck feeling like you can’t get to FI fast enough, this episode is for YOU!
In This Episode We Cover
How to fast-track your FIRE and become work optional in under ten years
House hacking and why it’s one of the best ways to lower expenses and build wealth
Live in flipping and how to turn your next home purchase into a money-making investment
Whether you should stop investing or double down on your retirement accounts when shooting for early retirement
Roth conversion ladders, HSAs (health savings accounts), and how to access retirement funds even earlier
Increasing your income by job hopping and leveling up the skills that’ll make you more
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
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(00:00) Intro
(01:07) Goal: FI by 40!
(03:13) Money Snapshot
(04:14) Work Optionality!
(05:50) Stay at His Job?
(15:00) Traveling to Make More Money
(20:38) Stop Investing in 401(k)?
(31:13) Live in Flipping
(42:39) Can Travis Hit FI by 40?
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The combination of saving money and buying rentals is a recipe for reaching financial independence much faster than you thought possible. Just ask today’s guest, who started with tens of thousands of dollars in debt but was able to achieve FI in just a few years!
Henry Washington is a real estate investor, author of Real Estate Deal Maker, and co-host of the On the Market podcast, but he doesn’t have your typical “rags-to-riches” money story. Despite an upper-middle-class upbringing and landing a six-figure job right out of college, Henry was a serial spender. Before he knew it, he had racked up $40,000 in credit card debt and was told by banks that he was unlendable. Horrified by what his family’s future would look like on its current trajectory, Henry was determined to get his finances in check. He caught the real estate bug, attended meetups and networking events, befriended other investors, and found his first deal!
Henry went on to build and scale a real estate portfolio of over 140 units, and in this episode, he provides actionable advice that will help you break into real estate—whether you aspire to own a single rental property or twenty. Along the way, you’ll learn about “gamifying” your way to financial freedom, funding a down payment without money in the bank, and the recession-proof investing strategy Henry still uses today!
In This Episode We Cover
How Henry scaled his real estate portfolio to over 140 units in just seven years
How “gamifying” your finances can turn you from a spender into a saver
Why finding good deals is the key to a recession-proof investing strategy
Getting a crash course in real estate investing through local meetups and networking
Creative ways to come up with the down payment for an investment property
The three phases of rental property investing that lead to generational wealth
And So Much More!
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(00:00) Intro
(01:10) Racking Up $40K Debt
(06:06) Catching the Real Estate Bug
(11:24) “Gamifying” Finances & Networking
(16:37) Henry’s First Deal
(24:18) Making Your Own Luck
(30:17) Henry’s Current Portfolio
(36:26) Saving His Rental Income
(43:22) How to Get Started in 2024
(46:39) Connect with Henry!
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Just a short while back, Marisa Mae was caught in the paycheck-to-paycheck trap, her credit cards stretched to their limits with no emergency savings to speak of, all while wrestling with constant financial stress. Today, she’s on a clear path to retire as a millionaire. Her secret? Mastering the art of debt repayment without succumbing to severe frugality. Marisa managed to eliminate five-figure consumer debt, not by cutting out her cherished coffee runs, but by smart financial planning. Isn’t that supposed to be a big FIRE faux pas?
Marisa’s turning point came at rock bottom—stranded without a place to stay or a dollar to her name. But instead of going back to restrictive budgeting and punishing herself for her overspending, she built a financial plan that worked specifically for her.
Now, Marisa is ready to show others that achieving financial freedom, eradicating debt, and even starting to invest can all happen WITHOUT cutting everything enjoyable out of your life. If you’re battling to escape bad debt, Marisa’s approach could liberate you faster than you think—even if you struggle to find financial balance.
In This Episode We Cover
How Marisa went from a financial “mess” to being on track to become a millionaire in retirement
The spending hack that allows you to treat yourself WITHOUT going over budget
Why you CAN invest while paying off debt (and the right way to do it)
Why taking on good debt to grow your business/side hustle isn’t a bad thing
The “slow” path to becoming debt-free that is MUCH more successful than the beans and rice diet
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
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(00:00) Intro
(01:05) Paycheck-to-Paycheck and Worth $0
(04:29) Enough is Enough
(07:20) Paying Off Debt While Still Spending
(10:21) Investing While in Debt!?
(14:41) Finally Debt-Free?
(16:58) Managing Her Money
(21:38) Best Tip for FIRE
(24:08) Connect with Marisa!
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Should you sell your house or keep it as a rental property in 2024? What you do with your home today could create a million-dollar swing in your portfolio ten, twenty, or thirty years from now. Fortunately, we’ve developed a powerful new tool to help you make the best decision for your financial future!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! If you refinanced your mortgage around 2021, chances are you’re sitting on a low interest rate the likes of which we’re unlikely to see again. The recent rise in rates and home prices has created a “lock-in effect,” where millions of homeowners are disincentivized to sell. But does it make sense to sell if you can roll your home equity into another wealth-building asset? Could you convert your house into a rental and create hundreds of dollars in monthly cash flow?
Today, we’re giving you a step-by-step walkthrough of our new “Keep or Sell Your Home” worksheet. We’ll compare four outcomes—selling your home to buy another property, selling your property and investing in stocks, keeping the property and hiring a property manager, and keeping the property and becoming a landlord. Along the way, we’ll use several examples of homeowners so that you can get an idea of where you might stand!
In This Episode We Cover
A step-by-step walkthrough of Scott’s new “Keep or Sell Your Home” worksheet
Two realistic examples of when to sell your home or keep it as a rental property
The numbers you need to make a rock-solid decision on your investment property
The crucial question you should ask before keeping or selling your home
How ONE decision can impact your future by hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more!)
And So Much More!
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Millions of Americans Should Keep Their Homes as Rentals, Not Sell. Here’s Why
(00:00) Intro
(05:11) Using the Worksheet
(12:15) How Much Would You Make?
(14:36) Breaking Down Your Options
(20:08) Keep or Sell This Property?
(29:11) The “BiggerPockets” Homeowner
(34:54) Try the Worksheet!
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Real estate investing is one of the best vehicles for building wealth, reaching financial independence, and saving for retirement, but you don’t need to become a full-time investor to reap the benefits. If you have no plans to leave your W2 job or manage rentals, there are several ways to use real estate for passive income!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! When Devon Kennard entered the NFL, he ran into more money than he had ever made. But with no guarantee of a pay raise or second contract, Devon forewent the flashy car and multi-million-dollar home and started saving and investing instead. Shortly after buying his first rental property, Devon realized that he was going to need passive or semi-passive income streams if he wanted to have success on the football field. He landed on four different types of passive investments that have helped him scale his portfolio to twenty-nine doors and over forty syndications!
In this episode, Devon talks about the importance of increasing your income in your working years and why small wins make all the difference early on in your investing journey. You’ll also learn about the dangers of “shady” real estate syndications and how to properly vet an operator, as well as the differences between fast and slow money!
In This Episode We Cover
How Devon scaled his real estate portfolio while playing in the NFL
Four passive real estate investing strategies you can use today
Speeding up your financial independence timeline with real estate side hustles
Fast money versus slow money (and which bucket you should be filling)
The pros and cons of syndications and how to weed out “shady” operators
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
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Connect with Devon
(00:00) Intro
(07:56) Saving $1M in 3 Years!
(15:37) Making “Small” Bets
(21:08) Passive Real Estate 101
(31:59) Devon’s Portfolio & Strategy
(39:17) “Shady” Syndications
(45:56) Commercial Investing
(47:08) Devon’s New Book!
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How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)
Podcast Description
What’s your financial independence number (FI/FIRE number)? Are you being too conservative, or are you cutting things close? Do you even have one? Today, we’re taking a deep dive into this hotly debated topic to help you build a nest egg that will support your early retirement!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! How much money do you actually need to retire? For years, the four-percent rule has been the “official” stance of the FI community. But why is it, then, that so many people continue saving and investing when they can comfortably retire? In this episode, Scott and Mindy talk about their own FI numbers, how they calculated them, and how their financial positions have evolved over time. You’ll learn whether the four-percent rule still works today or if you need a larger buffer!
If you’re worried about inflation, one of the best things you can do is keep your living expenses in check. This might seem out of your control, but there are several ways to either lock in certain costs or eliminate them entirely. We’ll discuss the many advantages of a paid-off house, self-managing your rental properties in retirement, and a one-time investment that could help you save thousands of dollars over your lifetime!
In This Episode We Cover
How to calculate your financial independence number (and when to adjust it!)
The four-percent rule explained (and whether it still works in 2024)
Why most people chasing FIRE don’t retire on the four-percent rule
How to control your expenses and protect against inflation in retirement
The “home run” investment that could save you thousands of dollars
And So Much More!
Links
The 4% Rule: The Easy Answer to “How Much Do I Need for Retirement?”
(00:00) Intro
(01:18) Calculating Your FI Number
(07:37) Does the 4% Rule Work?
(15:32) Locking in Your Expenses
(22:40) How to Combat Inflation
(31:48) Retiring on a Different Portfolio Mix
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Why do many wealthy people wait so long to retire? Despite earning a physician’s salary, living frugally, and saving what most would call “more than enough” money, today’s guest worked for another four years before pulling the trigger on early retirement. Is he on to something? Does the four-percent rule no longer work in 2024? Stay tuned to find out!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Leif Dahleen, MD, the “Physician on FIRE,” was already financially independent when he discovered the FIRE movement. But rather than calling time on a successful healthcare career, he continued to beef up his nest egg. Why? Leif had determined that he needed forty-to-fifty times his annual expenses to feel comfortable walking away from his nine-to-five. Do more FI-focused folks need to follow Leif’s formula to account for the unknown?
We’ve all dreamed of what a day in the life of an early retiree might look like. Leif had his own expectations, but in this episode, he shares what he discovered when his schedule was suddenly clear. You’ll also learn about the mindset high-income earners need to avoid squandering wealth, and why putting down roots in a low-cost-of-living area could be the difference between fast-tracking retirement and keeping up with the Joneses!
In This Episode We Cover
Why most people DON’T retire on the four-percent rule (even though it works!)
Fast-tracking the path to early retirement in a low-cost-of-living area
How to actually leave your W2 job once you have enough money to retire
Why earning a high income doesn’t guarantee FIRE (and common pitfalls to avoid!)
Choosing the right retirement withdrawal strategy for your financial situation
Why Leif won’t adjust his retirement lifestyle as he continues to build wealth
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
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How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?
(00:00) Intro
(01:58) Leif’s “Unfair” Advantage
(06:33) Leaving the Medical Profession
(12:42) Funding His Retirement
(15:09) Does the 4% Rule Work?
(23:37) Adjusting Your Retirement Lifestyle
(29:23) Retirement Expectations vs. Reality
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What does it mean to “win” financially in your income bracket? To us, the end goal is always FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), and if you’re chasing financial freedom, this is the show for you. We’re breaking down the money moves you need to make based on your income bracket, going from $45,000 to $100,000 per year, and how to stretch your dollar the furthest so you can invest, save, and reach FIRE faster.
If you’re at the lower end of the income scale, we’ll give you time-tested methods to boost your income and use your time wisely so you can start stockpiling cash TODAY. If you have a high income, there’s still work to be done as you need to find the best way to keep the most of your income so you can use it to acquire wealth-building assets.
Regardless of how much money you make, you CAN achieve FIRE if you know the proper steps. The good news? We’re sharing those steps today, so stick around!
In This Episode We Cover
How to speed up your path to financial independence based on your income bracket
Why we disagree about retirement account investing when you’re just starting your career
Ways to make more money and side hustles that can boost your income
The headache-free vs. hands-on approach to investing for FIRE (and who should take which path)
Lifestyle creep and avoiding overspending (EVEN if you have a higher income)
How much money we reasonably think you’ll need to achieve FIRE
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
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BiggerPockets Money 32 - Financial Freedom Through Small Life Changes and a Modest Real Estate Portfolio w/Planting our Pennies
BiggerPockets Money 35 - Hacking Your Life to Live for (Almost) Free with Craig Curelop
BiggerPockets Money 97 - Intentionally Choosing the Path to Financial Independence with Financial Mechanic
BiggerPockets Money 110 - Systematically Increasing Income and Intentionally Decreasing Spending with A Purple Life
BiggerPockets Money 169 - Breaking the Taboo of Talking About Money with Friends, Family, and Bosses w/Erin Lowry
BiggerPockets Money 328 - The Best Alternative Investment No One Knows About w/Alex Breshears and Beth Johnson
The One Thing
How to Win Friends and Influence People
The E-Myth Revisited
The Go-Giver
The Challenger Sale
Learn Private Money Lending with “Lend to Live”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
See Mindy and Scott at BPCON2024 in Cancun!
FIRE in 2024: What We’d Do Differently If We Started Over Today
(00:00) Intro
(01:08) $45,000/Year Income
(12:37) $75,000/Year Income
(23:11) $100,000/Year Income
(28:48) How Much for FIRE?
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Young, old, or in between, you need to hear this episode! Today’s guest paid off over $80,000 of debt, grew her net worth to $100,000 and did it all just years after graduating from college without a sky-high income. How did she make such quick progress, and what’s her secret to skyrocketing her net worth early in her career? She’s sharing it all in this episode, and you (no matter your age) can follow her repeatable path, too!
Want to see your net worth leap so you can fast-track your road to FIRE? Anna Foley is the person you should listen to. Through common-sense smart spending, diligent investing, and salary-increasing career pivots, Anna and her partner went from $80,000 debt to debt-free and finally hit six-figure net worth status. The best part? They did all of it WITHOUT giving up what makes life enjoyable, and they still sport a phenomenal savings rate!
Anna is sharing how she saves a significant portion of her income every month, why she decided to rent (not buy) a house, how “paying yourself first” can get you debt-free before you know it, and why she does NOT follow the traditional advice of chasing a “FIRE number.” In your twenties? Copy Anna’s plan! Closer to retirement? Follow Anna’s smart saving and investing tactics, and you can get there faster!
In This Episode We Cover
How to become debt-free and achieve a six-figure net worth before you’re thirty!
Why Anna decided to rent a house, not buy one, to maximize her savings
What Anna invests 100% of her income in (it’s not real estate!)
The “middle-class trap” to avoid when maxing out your retirement accounts
Why you DON’T need a FIRE number, and why Anna’s more achievable goals work better
Boosting your income and why job-hopping can explode your income-generating potential
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
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BiggerPockets Money 97 - Intentionally Choosing the Path to Financial Independence with Financial Mechanic
BiggerPockets Money 110 - Systematically Increasing Income and Intentionally Decreasing Spending with A Purple Life
BiggerPockets Money 558 - How to Start Investing for Retirement: 401(k), IRA, Roth?
BiggerPockets Money 560 - Dude ACTUALLY Withdraws From His 401(k) and Retires at 47
Email Your Savings Rate to mindy@biggerpockets.com!
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Finance Friday: How the “Middle-Class Trap” Stops Your Early Retirement
Connect with Anna
(00:00) Intro
(01:10) Investing Right After College
(03:00) Rent, Don’t Buy!
(08:58) Paying Off $80K in Debt
(12:42) Investing for Financial Independence
(16:16) Saving a TON!
(21:11) Better Than a “FI Number”
(25:27) Boosting Your Income
(27:19) Do This FIRST!
(29:11) Connect with Anna!
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Does FIRE seem impossible while raising a family? We’re about to prove that you CAN have it all. Emily and Joel are financially independent while raising five kids and still have the money to travel the world, take plenty of vacations, and sleep in without worrying about a job. They reached FI in just over a decade and did it without EVER having a high income. How’d they do it? One “financial superpower” allowed them to do what most people won’t.
Emily and Joel started with $150,000 in student loan debt. Their accounts dwindled at the end of every month, so they began to pay off their loans with the “debt snowball” method. Fast forward a few years, and they were debt-free, but now they had a new challenge: building their net worth!
Today, they’re sharing the incredible journey they took to go from personal finance zeros to heroes, the “why” behind achieving FI at such young ages, and how they did it all (including keeping expenses SUPER low) while raising not one, not two, but FIVE children. Think FI isn’t possible for you? Think again—copy Emily and Joel’s plan!
In This Episode We Cover
How to pay off debt FAST with the “debt snowball” method
Minimizing your expenses and how spending less gets you to FIRE way faster
Why you DON’T need to cut out travel/vacations on your path to financial freedom
The “financial superpower” you must cultivate if you want to retire early
What 100% of Emily and Joel’s portfolio is in and the simple path to building wealth
Starting side hustles that pay for your life and why working while FI is NOT a bad thing
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Mindy on BiggerPockets
Scott on BiggerPockets
Kyle on BiggerPockets
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50+ Rentals After Starting in Her 50s and How “Late Starters” Can Get Ahead
From 150k in Debt to FIRE in Their Mid-30s (With 5 Kids!)
ISI Team Camps
Reach FIRE Faster with “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
See Mindy at BPCON2024 in Cancun!
The Simple Path to Wealth—Index Funds Explained with JL Collins
(00:00) Intro
(01:07) Six-Figure Debt and Dave Ramsey
(05:58) "Snowballing” $150K in Debt
(08:27) $1,000,000 FI Number
(14:06) Financial Superpowers
(15:27) The “Why” Behind FI
(18:37) Serious Side Hustles
(29:29) Did They Retire?
(34:11) Connect with Emily and Joel
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-566
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I absolutely love the BiggerPockets Money Podcast! It's been such a game-changer for me when it comes to managing my finances and learning about smart investing strategies. The hosts bring in such diverse and knowledgeable guests who share their real-life experiences and insights, which makes the content incredibly relatable and actionable. https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Packaging-Mart One of the things I appreciate the most about this podcast is that it doesn't just focus on general advice; it dives deep into specific case studies and financial journeys. This gives me a better understanding of how people actually achieve their financial goals and overcome challenges. https://hubpages.com/@packagingmart
I don't understand a 40K house. the building materials alone for a house cost more than that, never mind the labor. Plus the cost of the land? if the houses are so low cost, why would anyone rent? I couldn't even buy a driveway for that price...
how can I write in to ask a question?
She loves bachata!
sad to see people using dogs for profit...when millions of dogs die in shelters each year in the US
This is basically me! Key takeaway: Get a higher salary via a higher-paid career (rather than lower-paid job + side hustles/hobbies), before starting house-hacking
This guest was all over the place. Really hard to follow.
MINDY IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!! this podcast gets great guests with awesome stories, however, you never get to hear them talk because mindy is ALWAYS talking about herself and forcing her opinions on everyone else. a common phrase from her is "I'm right, dont listen to anyone else or yourself or look at the numbers of a deal, im right" Mindy Jensen is single handedly ruining an otherwise great show. Bigger Pockets, can you get a new host please?
Great Podcast. A couple things not discussed or maybe I missed them. 1) Higher 401k contributions for tax purposes 2) HSA 3) Roth coversion ladder which allows you to access money way before retirement age. This is a key to maxing out your retirement accounts.
covered calls Mindy......
Very relatable
Very inspiring
Scott didn't ask him what was his favorite joke to tell at parties
the fact that this man graduated without student debt and has still gone on to helping people pay off over a billion dollars in student loan debt shows something. it's cool to me how people can make a business out of helping people. It's one of the reasons I love the FI community. I'm excited to get to the point that I can help more and more people better their lives.
I need to listen to this episode at lease 4 times. on the really good ones I try to listen twice and then twice sitting down taking notes and this is for sure the one I'm going to do that with
I love the show. I've been listening to BP the original for years now and in some ways I like this one almost more. its diverse and always goes over stuff that's really helpful with how to live and grow your wealth.
I am for sure going to start doing this. I can cut but I suck at grocery shopping and a lot of my food goes to waste. I've wanted to start meal planning and I'm going to check out Erin's website and really start doing what I need to cut my spending in this area.
how exactly is he the right person to give advice on this topic??? he didn't have student loan debt...
I am curious to know the answer that Scott asked. What were the 20 cities and what data points was she looking at?