Latest Episode • January 18, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 163: Taxes, Backdoor Roths, Options, and How to Max Out Your Childrens’ Roths with Steven Hamilton

Have tax questions for your upcoming 2020 taxes? Stick around then! We have a mind-blowing episode with enrolled agent Steven Hamilton from Hamilton Tax and Accounting. Mindy and Scott throw a lot of high-level, hard-hitting questions at Steven, so seriously, bring a pen and paper to this episode because you’re going to get some amazing tax strategies for 2020! How do you lower your income on your taxes if you have a W2? How do you add to your roth if you’re over the contribution income limit, and what’s the best way to get your kids to max out their retirement accounts (even if they’re only teenagers). Steven answers all these questions, plus a lot more! Whether you’re self employed or a W2 employee, you have options on contributing to retirement, AND options on leveraging those retirement accounts to fund investments. As always, it’s best to talk to your CPA, enrolled agent, or tax preparer on the best strategy that works for you. As Steven puts it, you need to have a plan for where your wealth is going and how you’re going to distribute it. Since 2020 was such a crazy year, many real estate investors are planning to double down on investments, up their contributions, or leave their W2 jobs. This all needs to be done with a plan and a strategy so you can maximize your investments and distributions. Steven helps spell out the best ways to do these (and more) through a number of different (and interesting) strategies. ... show more

BiggerPockets Money

One of the most frequently asked questions in the BiggerPockets forums is "How can I start investing in real estate with no money and bad credit?" The answer? You can't (Well, to be more accurate, you probably shouldn't). You need to fix your "No money and bad credit" situation and invest from a position of financial strength. Co-hosted by BiggerPockets' Scott Trench and Mindy Jensen, this podcast provides the education you didn't get in school. You'll get tips for getting your financial house in order and actionable advice from guests who have been in your shoes - and found their way out.

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Previous Episodes

January 15, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 162: Finance Friday: High Salary - But Nothing to Show For It. Cutting Unnecessary Expenses with Engineer Tracy

As you go further along in your career, you should (hopefully) make more and more money, but does that justify spending more money? Most times, it doesn’t. We’re joined by Tracy, experienced engineer and retirement super saver to go through her budget, expenses, and investment portfolio. Tracy has had a bit of a struggle with spending and expense tracking. A purchase here, some grocery shopping there, and by the time she added up her payments, she was consistently overspending by close to a thousand dollars, every month! Scott and Mindy have some great strategies to limit this type of random spending, and put your budget in the driver’s seat! Tracy is also interested in acquiring a rental property in mid/late 2021, but she doesn’t have the cash savings she needs to do it. That doesn’t mean Tracy lacks money. Quite the contrary, Tracy has a very respectable amount of money stored between her different retirement accounts. She was lucky enough to take advantage of her company’s 15% 401(k) match (seriously, 15%)! Now the question is: does she limit her contributions so she can save up for a rental property or does she continue to max out her retirement accounts so she has a big cushion when she decides to stop working? This is a very common question we get from listeners and members of the BiggerPockets community. You may be in the exact same position, all we can suggest is to tune in to hear what Mindy and Scott have to say! ... show more

January 11, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 161: Backdoor Roths, Mega Backdoor Roths, and Roth Conversion Ladders with The Mad Fientist

He’s back! Today we’re joined by a friend of the BiggerPockets podcast network, Brandon “The Mad Fientist”. Brandon walks us through advanced retirement account strategies you may have heard of, such as the Backdoor Roth, Roth Conversion Ladder, and the coveted Mega Backdoor Roth. While these strategies may sound intense at first, they’re quite simple in practice, as Brandon shows us! Many FI (financial independence) followers constantly ask the question “What’s the best retirement account to contribute to that will help me optimize my early retirement?”. While this can be answered a handful of ways, it often overlooks something very important: regular retirement. While chasing FI, it’s still possible to grow your traditional retirement accounts so you’re even wealthier later on in life! Brandon doesn’t just give various examples of each strategy, he’s tested them and has even ran experiments on his site, such as the Guinea Pig Experiment, which pits various early retirement strategies against each other. We also tackle common questions like: what should I contribute to if I have a low/high income, should I opt for a lower deductible on my healthcare plan to optimize my HSA (health savings account), how HSAs and FSAs differ, and what the contribution limits are for retirement accounts. Even if you’re not chasing FI, you’ll still be able to take advantage of Brandon’s advice. After all, he’s the Mad Fientist! ... show more

January 8, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 160: 6 Income Streams with a W2 Job and 4 Kids: Finance Friday with Cort Johnson

Many listeners of the BiggerPockets Podcast network are resourceful when saving and earning money, but maybe not quite as resourceful as Cort Johnson. Not only does he have a full-time engineering job , which he uses to support his family, he also has 5 other streams of income on the side! From contract welding projects, to dropshipping, renting out his trailer, and even raising rabbits (seriously!), Cort has done almost everything under the sun to build up his assets. The main problem: some income streams are taking up too much time, while providing too little in return. This is a constant problem that entrepreneurs and FIRE members face, too many options! Mindy and Scott go through Cort Johnson's income, budget, expenses, and general finances to see where he should allocate his time for maximum return. This episode goes deep on the importance of scalable income and following your passions to develop side income streams that you enjoy. Cort dreams big about starting his own business, investing in multifamily property, and living financially free. As you’ll hear in this episode, he’s not far off! ... show more

January 4, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 159: How to Financially Thrive in Marriage (Even if You or Your Partner is In Debt!) with Talaat and Tai from His and Her Money

What happens when you get married and find out your partner has debt? A lot of debt...That’s a question many young couples have, shortly after finding out their significant other’s full financial pict ure. While it may seem scary at first, working together to solve financial problems and gravitating towards financial freedom can bring you closer together. That’s exactly what happened to Talaat and Tai McNeely from His and Her Money. Both were raised in frugal houses, but like many frugally-raised people, they split in financial directions. Tai was busy putting herself through college, debt free! On the other hand, Talaat went into the military and started spending his pay on consumer goods. The cars, the clothes, and everything in between. Tai later learned that Talaat had around $30,000 in consumer debt! So what did she do, walk away from him? Of course not! She worked with Talaat and put together a plan where they both could work hard to get out of debt. Shortly after, Talaat was debt free, so what did they do next? They bought their house, and came up with a plan to completely pay it off in 5 years (Yes, 5). Now Talaat and Tai run His and Her Money, helping other couples work together to reach their financial goals. Talaat and Tai have 7 key tips to staying happy and secure in a marriage where the finances are shared, and how to stray away from the “2-Income Trap”. ... show more

January 1, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 158: Are You Under Leveraging? Finance Friday with Investor and Agent Wayne Loux

Happy New Year! With the first 2021 episode of Finance Fridays, we take a look at Wayne Loux’s investments, income streams, and overall finances. Wayne is like many of our listeners: working a W2 j ob, but also supporting himself and his family by having 1099 income from being a real estate agent. On top of that, Wayne has over 10 rental units, spread throughout different multifamily properties. He also has solid retirement savings and cash on hand. With all this income, Wayne wanted answers on whether or not he should lessen his time at his W2 job, take more cash out from equity in the multifamily properties he owns, and other common real estate investment questions. Scott and Mindy go through different strategies that can help Wayne grow his portfolio. From 1031 exchanges, to setting up self-directed IRAs, and cash-out refinancing to build an out of state portfolio. These are questions we hear from many investors on the BiggerPockets forums, so stay tuned because Scott and Mindy just might answer a question you’ve had! ... show more

December 28, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 157: The Money Date: What You Should (And Definitely Should Not) Do to Align Your Finances as a Couple

Calling all couples! You and your partner may be on the same page financially, or off in two different directions, regardless of where you’re at, it’s a great time to start having money dates! In t his episode, Mindy and Scott are going solo, talking through why money dates are such a crucial part of any healthy relationship. This isn’t just talk, both Mindy and Scott are adamant about money dates, they do them often with their partners as well! If you’re an individual listening to this episode, you may feel a bit intimidated by the concept of a money date. Do you just sit down and talk about index funds and taxes for an hour? No! A money date can be a perfect time to be alone as a couple, talk about the future, make some positive changes, and hold each other accountable for being the best version of yourselves. If you have a partner who may be a bit averse to the concept of a money date, have no fear, Mindy and Scott have perfected their plan for setting up a successful money date, and how to make it enjoyable when you’re in it. With the new year coming up very soon, this is the perfect time to plan a money date with your special someone, you won’t regret it! ... show more

December 21, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 156: The Conservative Money Cool Kid: Buying 20+ Houses in Cash with Richard Carey from Rich On Money

Most real estate investors get into real estate to get rich quick. If you’re looking to make a million dollars within your first year of real estate, this is the wrong podcast! But, if you’re looking to build a sustainable portfolio of cash flowing rentals while reaching financial independence in a very lucrative position, this is the episode for you! Richard Carey, AKA the “Conservative Money Cool Kid'' started out in the military, not knowing that real estate was the place where he would create his wealth. He started with a duplex and slowly began building his real estate empire, even while overseas. He even took a 10 year break from real estate, and was still able to grow his position to an impressive level! Real estate wasn’t the only way that Richard was investing. He was maxing out his IRAs and employee retirement accounts, investing in index funds and watching them grow more and more as he upped his contributions. Richard is a fantastic example of why you want to start investing as early as possible. While most real estate investors champion loans and leveraging as much as possible, Richard thinks differently. He finds a position of strength by not overleveraging, owning rentals outright, and having a solid safety net to depend on. Richard now sits in a great position, early in life, with a lot ahead of him! ... show more

December 14, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 155: Retired at 35: How Robert from Stop Ironing Shirts Achieved FI Even During The Great Recession

Robert from Stop Ironing Shirts has had quite a lucrative career path. Starting out as a bank teller in college, he learnt that he really enjoyed math that had dollar signs attached to the numbers. Fr om there, he launched his career forward, first as a commercial banker, and later becoming a well-paid top executive. While he had a great job and a partner who was also bringing in a solid paycheck every month, he slowly started to get tired of the corporate bureaucracy, politics, location dependency, and long hours. Robert has made some mistakes on his path to early retirement. He lost money on a few real estate deals and he even bought a brand new car (gasp!). None of this stopped him from still living below his means, siphoning off a large portion of his income for investments, and capitalizing on special programs such as the 409a plan. Robert now lives life on his schedule. Whether that be spending copious amounts of time shopping at Costco or surfing at the beach, Robert has a life where he decides what he wants to do, everyday. Thankfully, it didn’t take him 30+ years of working to get there! ... show more

December 7, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 154: Confessions of a Former Spender: How Allison Baggerly Paid off $110K in Loans on a Teacher’s Salary

Ever had a card declined when trying to buy the basics? That was the start of Allison Baggerly’s journey into budgeting and saving. As a big spender in college, Allison didn’t see a real reason to save instead of spend. She would take herself on frequent trips to the mall to treat herself when she aced a test, or make herself feel better if she flunked one. It wasn’t until her first son was born that her and her husband realized they wouldn’t have enough in the budget to pay for childcare costs, and thus, the Inspired Budget was born! After a few years of limited spending and frequent budget analyzing, Allison and her Husband paid off over $110,000+ in debt and are now on their way to financial abundance. Allison talks about the importance of giving yourself spending, investing, and saving allowances and how you don’t need to sacrifice everything to become financially safe! ... show more

November 30, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 153: Bill Bengen (The Inventor of the 4% Rule) Talks Retirement, Past Crashes, and How You Can Withdraw Even More!

He really is the man who needs no introduction (but here’s one anyways). Bill Bengen, the inventor of the 4% rule (and personal finance hero of Mindy & Scott) stops by the Money Podcast to talk about how he calculated his famed 4%, how he managed his client’s portfolios, and how the 4% has aged throughout the past three decades. In his Original Article from the Journal Of Financial Planning, October 1994, Bengen outlined a groundbreaking calculation: a 4% withdrawal rate from your retirement accounts is all you need to comfortably retire (if enough is saved up). Bengen was hit with praise and criticism, but is still applauded to this day for having such a simple yet crucial metric for knowing how & when you can retire. Using over 200+ retirement account portfolios spanning decades of time as research, Bengen still says with confidence, the 4% rule is a winner! He has the proof and we couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re a few years or a few decades away from retirement, this episode features life-changing advice from one of the leaders in financial research. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! ... show more

November 23, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 152: Reaching Financial Independence Despite a Very Late Start with Baby Boomer Super Saver

To say that Kathy from Baby Boomer Super Saver had a difficult journey ahead of her is an understatement. She was $70,000 in credit card debt, with a big mortgage, and a spouse that had a medical emer gency. So how did she make her way to the millionaire retirement level? Through financial management communities like the FIRE movement, she was able to correct her spending faults, earn more, and invest most of her income into retirement accounts. Kathy put in the work to change her mindset about money as a whole, and reach for abundance instead of just survival. Now, Kathy teaches others how they can reach their retirement goals (even if they’re behind where they want to be) on her Baby Boomer Super Saver blog. Whether you’re just starting your career, or are a few years away from retirement, Kathy has some incredible tips on money management, maxing out retirement contributions, and being intentional with your money and your journey. ... show more

November 16, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 151: From Single Dad w/ $61K in Student Loans to Financially Savvy Real Estate Investor with Tony J Robinson

You may know Tony J Robinson as the co-host of the Real Estate Rookie podcast, but you probably don’t know his backstory. As a single dad working his way through college and student debt, Tony knew that he needed to have a plan in place to pursue his goals and find financial freedom. He also knew he didn’t want to repeat the same real estate mistakes as his parents. He went from an engineering student, to owning a small tutoring business, to marketing, and finally landed a sweet gig at Tesla! After paying off debt, creating a healthy reserve fund, and divvying his money into over 20 different checking accounts (yes, 20+), he was able to reap the rewards of smart financial management and chase down freedom through real estate. If you’re trying to consolidate debt, find ways to make more money at a job, or leverage creative funding to finance your next deal, Tony has a solution to your problem. ... show more

November 9, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 150: From Childhood Homelessness to Financially Confident with Cristina Livadary

Cristina Livadary immigrated to the US when she was 6, and less than a year later, her father left, leaving her stranded with her mother and sister. She didn't speak the language, had no money, and li ved in hotels until her mother was able to find steady work as a chef. She grew up without much in the way of financial education, but did secure a water polo scholarship to Bucknell. Until a rotator cuff injury lost her the funding at the beginning of her third year. She left college with $100,000 in student loans and a burning desire to find a high paying job to live out her Carrie Bradshaw dreams of living in NYC. She spent two years in New York, working hard and spending harder. She moved to LA to run a division covering California and Hawaii, and decided she needed to make a big change. Cristina stopped spending lavishly on things that didn't matter, started focusing on what made her happy, and now helps others manage their finances to get money out of the way and live their best lives. ... show more

November 2, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 149: Listener Finance Review: Knocking Out Debt to Start Investing

Nick Groover is 25, with a young daughter and a fiance, looking to make changes to his finances so he can start married life off on the right foot. He has some debts he'd like to knock out so he ca n start investing in real estate, and potentially start a business. He just got a promotion and a raise, and on paper is doing pretty good. But Nick needs to start budgeting, because a dollar here and five dollars there is eating up his overage, so there is very little to save. In today's episode, Scott and Mindy sit down with Nick to go over his current financial situation and use their life experiences to suggest easy wins to help pay down his debt, start saving for future real estate purchases, and start investing for retirement. Nick's in a good place right now, but following Scott & Mindy's suggestions should help him get money out of the way so he can go on to lead his best life! ... show more

October 26, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 148: How to Become an Everyday Millionaire with Chris Hogan

Chris Hogan joins Scott and Mindy today to chat about becoming an everyday millionaire. Chris and his team interviewed more than 10,000 millionaires to hear how they did it. Hard work, determinatio n, spending less than you make, investing wisely, and eliminating debt. Chris shares how to discuss your finances with your spouse - and how to bring them on board when you have differing views about money. He talks about the emotional journey that debt paydown can take you on - and how to handle that so you come out on top! Chris also reveals his feelings about FIRE - and how there is too much focus on the RE and not enough on the FI. He wants you to become Financially Independent but also wants you to enjoy your journey. Chris firmly believes that anyone can become debt free and start to build wealth to become an Everyday Millionaire. ... show more

October 19, 2020

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 147: Pursuing Financial Independence on Her Own Terms with Cathleen Hutchins

Cathleen Hutchins grew up in Hawaii. She come over to the mainland for college, but Hawaii kept calling her name, so she moved back home. Hawaii is an expensive place to live, and Cathleen knew she 'd need a plan in order to reach financial independence if she was going to live there for the rest of her life. So she saved. She invested. She made smart decisions about her money and is continuously looking for ways to generate passive income to help fund her retirement. She has also sacrificed some comforts and norms to get to where she is today. She and her husband lived apart for a while, both living where there was a job for each of them, not always in the same state! But her sacrificing and saving has allowed her to move home to Hawaii, buy a house, and continue to pursue financial independence in a high cost of living area. Cathleen is well on her way to Financial Independence and her story is just another example of how following the proven path, you can get money out of the way so you can lead your best life. ... show more

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BiggerPockets Money Podcast 163: Taxes, Backdoor Roths, Options, and How to Max Out Your Childrens’ Roths with Steven Hamilton

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Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 162: Finance Friday: High Salary - But Nothing to Show For It. Cutting Unnecessary Expenses with Engineer Tracy

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 161: Backdoor Roths, Mega Backdoor Roths, and Roth Conversion Ladders with The Mad Fientist

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 160: 6 Income Streams with a W2 Job and 4 Kids: Finance Friday with Cort Johnson

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 159: How to Financially Thrive in Marriage (Even if You or Your Partner is In Debt!) with Talaat and Tai from His and Her Money

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 158: Are You Under Leveraging? Finance Friday with Investor and Agent Wayne Loux

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 157: The Money Date: What You Should (And Definitely Should Not) Do to Align Your Finances as a Couple

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 156: The Conservative Money Cool Kid: Buying 20+ Houses in Cash with Richard Carey from Rich On Money

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 155: Retired at 35: How Robert from Stop Ironing Shirts Achieved FI Even During The Great Recession

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 154: Confessions of a Former Spender: How Allison Baggerly Paid off $110K in Loans on a Teacher’s Salary

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 153: Bill Bengen (The Inventor of the 4% Rule) Talks Retirement, Past Crashes, and How You Can Withdraw Even More!

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 152: Reaching Financial Independence Despite a Very Late Start with Baby Boomer Super Saver

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 151: From Single Dad w/ $61K in Student Loans to Financially Savvy Real Estate Investor with Tony J Robinson

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 150: From Childhood Homelessness to Financially Confident with Cristina Livadary

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 149: Listener Finance Review: Knocking Out Debt to Start Investing

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 148: How to Become an Everyday Millionaire with Chris Hogan

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 147: Pursuing Financial Independence on Her Own Terms with Cathleen Hutchins

BiggerPockets Money

Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Money

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