Latest Episode • September 24, 2021

BiggerPocket Money Podcast 234: Finance Friday: From “We Can’t Retire” To Retiring Early in 5 Years

A rock-solid financial position consists of a few things: budgeting, expense tracking, living below your means, and making extra income. Once those are accomplished, you’re on track to start investing heavily and financial independence is in sight. This is exactly the position Lynsey (mother to Mindy’s pool boy) is in. Lynsey and her husband bring in a moderate salary from his job and her businesses of jewelry making, relationship counseling, and their garage and basement house hack. For a long time, Lynsey assumed she would never be able to retire, but as her income has grown she’s realized that she not only can retire but retire early. Lynsey has a few key ways she could increase her business revenue: outsourcing, marketing, and scaling. Her husband also has a strong suspicion he’s underpaid, meaning a boost in income could be one ask away for him. The couple also wants to invest in more short-term rentals or buy another house hack property. But, of all the options they’re presented with, which one will push the needle? ... 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

September 20, 2021

BiggerPocket Money Podcast 233: How to Financially Plan for 2 Special Needs Family Members

Life can be challenging at times. When you think you’re in a stable spot, the universe tends to throw you one (or many) curveballs. In the realm of financial education, the smart early decisions we ma ke can help alleviate the stress of these curveballs. This has happened almost to the tee for today’s guest, Karen Ferrero. Karen grew up in a small town to a middle-class family. She was a first-generation college graduate and worked throughout high school and college. She later took a job and began consulting in the tech world, which offered her a respectable salary. She got married and had two kids with her husband, but shortly after, her husband was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. Not only that, her son was diagnosed with autism. Now, Karen had to sell her house, find a new accessible one, take her son to therapy every day, and continue working her full-time job. This put her in a sizable debt hole, but through strategic debt payoff and intelligent investing, Karen has come out on top. She still has a very high-paying job, a loving family and some very, very profitable investment accounts for her children that she started decades ago. ... show more

September 17, 2021

BiggerPocket Money Podcast 232: Finance Friday: What Would You Do With an Extra $100k Per Year?

Kari and her wife made some big moves over the past few years. They packed up their stuff and left the San Francisco Bay Area for a relocation in the midwest. Unlike the Bay Area, the Midwest has many affordable housing options with plenty of chances to house hack. So, that’s exactly what the couple did! They bought a duplex in rough condition, put in close to $80,000 of renovations, and now get $900 a month from the side they’re renting out. Although this renovation allowed them to live for free, it put a $66,000 hole in their pockets, which they recently just paid off. Without much retirement savings or investments in general (save the house hack), Kari is wondering what she can do to maximize the extra $100,000 in after-tax income she and her wife bring in every year. Should she go the index funds route, buy another rental, or help her wife pursue her dreams by investing in a restaurant? Scott and Mindy give Kari a lot of ideas in this episode, many of which could help you as well! ... show more

September 13, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 231: 'On the Road' to FIRE: The Massive Financial Benefits of Van Living

Not everyone has the vagabond spirit of those who choose to optionally live out of their cars, trucks, or vans. While this isn’t up Scott and Mindy’s alley, it’s been perfectly fine for today’s guests Tien and Brandon. After deciding to end their lease before a road trip, Tien and Brandon found living in their specialty-built van wasn’t just habitable, but preferable for their lifestyle. This was especially true after paying pricey southern California rent. All this happened after making some impressive financial moves; paying off $50k of loans in eight months, flipping their first house, and buying a small portfolio of duplexes. Tien and Brandon have made a spree of financially intelligent moves, pushing themselves into a high net worth category, all while living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. As of March 2021, Tien and Brandon dismantled their truly remote lifestyle to settle into their first short-term rental house hack. They’ve been pulling in $8,000 a month (yes, a month) from their San Diego Airbnb property, which is not only covering their entire mortgage but paying them some profits to boot! ... show more

September 10, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 230: Finance Friday: In My Mid-50s, Do I Have Enough to Retire Next Year?

Retiring early can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to do more, with less time, but you have to stay diligent on your budgeting, expense tracking, and investing if you want to hit your goal by a certain age. Today we talk to Lisa, who wants to retire next year, in her mid-50s. While most people think early retirement means retiring in your 20s and 30s, this isn’t necessarily true. Retiring 10 years early, like Lisa, is a massive accomplishment, but requires the same skills needed for retiring decades earlier. Lisa has three pieces of property: a cash-flowing rental in pricey Boise, her primary residence in Washington, and a plot of land in North Idaho. She’s tinkered around with ideas of using her primary residence as a short-term rental, but unbeknownst to her is the fact that having a short-term rental could bankroll her retirement. She also has a sizable amount in retirement accounts, but none of those assets produce cash flow. Will Lisa be able to retire using the 4% rule with her retirement accounts? Or, should she use this last year of employment to double down on cash-flowing assets like rental properties? ... show more

September 6, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 229: The 6 Money Mistakes High School/College Students MUST Avoid

Most college students know next to nothing about money. Even worse, many of them sign on to expensive student loans with almost no plan on how they’re going to pay it back. While this is the average, some people, like Nathan Kennedy, host of The New Money Podcast, did things differently. Although he overspent a bit going out in college, Nathan graduated with a degree and $40,000 in cash, a MASSIVE amount for any college student. Through applying for grants, working at on-campus jobs, and collecting tip money as a bartender, Nathan was able to graduate in a solid position, allowing him to invest heavily in the stock market during the 2020 crash. Now, Nathan teaches others how they can strengthen their financial position through hard work, planning, and constant content consumption. If you have children who are in high school, college, or are newly graduated, send them this episode so they can have a leg up on future finances! ... show more

September 3, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 228: Finance Friday: Is “Random Spending” Ruining Your Budget?

“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” This is the topic of today’s episode, where we interview Jenny for a Finance Friday review. Jenny is finishing up her fourth degree an d has been working throughout grad school to help her family. Her husband brings in a sizable income, but he wants to retire in 2030 and spend more time with their (future) kids. Jenny has great control over her fixed expenses, but as for her variable expenses...not so much. Her family is consistently teetering between $1,000 a month and $2,400 a month in variable expenses, many of which can be resolved with some simple shopping tweaks (like leaving your credit card at home when you go to the grocery store). Luckily, they’ve invested a fair amount of their take-home pay, have a stellar 401(k) match, and are about to have dual incomes once Jenny is out of school. If you’re having trouble keeping a hold on your variable expenses, such as random Amazon shopping, tune in for this episode for advice on exactly what to do. ... show more

August 30, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 227: ‘Rocketing' To FI at Age 35: What’s Life Like Post-Retirement?

What do you think of when you think about retirement? Are you on a tropical island drinking fruity cocktails out of a coconut? If you dream about that sort of retirement, Steve Adcock may have some re vealing words for you. Retirement isn’t just about doing nothing all day, it’s about exploring your passions, and sometimes working more than you did before, to accomplish things that truly matter to you. Steve decided to leave his high-stress IT job after 11 years of work. It was eating away at him every day, and it got to the point where just going into work became a grueling weight on his shoulders. He knew from a few years before potential retirement that he had a choice: lavishly live his life now or live frugally and have financial freedom forever. He chose the latter and doesn't regret it for one second. Now, Steve and his rocket scientist wife spend their time taking care of their completely self-reliant housing compound in Arizona. He has a lot more to accomplish, but for now, he’s enjoying his off-grid lifestyle, complete with solar panels, his own water well, and a brand new septic tank. ... show more

August 27, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 226: Finance Friday: Is Your Cash Losing Value While You Wait to Invest?

Sometimes having a lot of cash can be dangerous. Would you rather be sitting on months (or even years) worth of emergency reserves or have your money be challenging inflation by sitting in investments like index funds or real estate? This is the question that many people have, and also one that today’s guest, Phil, is having as well. Phil and his wife live in a relatively low cost area and bring in a very solid income. They’ve been maxing out HSAs, 401(k)s, and other accounts all while having a significant amount of cash on the sidelines, just waiting for the right investment. While Phil wants to go into an unconventional type of real estate investing, both Scott and Mindy believe he should focus on the long-term goals he has set for himself and find asset classes that fit within his strategy. ... show more

August 23, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 225: From $52K in Debt to $100K/Month in (Almost) Passive Income

A lot of people in the financial independence community successfully get out of debt, but not many of them get out of debt and then start a monthly six-figure side business. One person who has done th at is Deacon Hayes. Deacon was raised by a single mother on welfare who taught Deacon that debt was a way of life. When Deacon married his wife, they both collectively realized that the only way for them to live the life they wanted to, was to get out of debt. Deacon did whatever he could to pay off his debt. He delivered pizzas and resold furniture, all while working full time. Once he was out of debt, he decided his passion was in teaching others how to get rid of their debt, so he became a financial planner and started his website, Well Kept Wallet. His story was so well received that he was brought on to record with Fox and tell their audience about his debt-free journey. Deacon left the financial planning world after realizing he didn’t want to just help the rich, but the average person who still struggled with debt. To subsidize his business, he started a website building business, but later automated this and kept the lion's share of the profit while doing very little work. He started an SEO (search engine optimization) business and did the exact same thing. Then as Well Kept Wallet was bringing in massive revenue numbers, he did the same, hiring another worker to fill his role so he could focus on what he loves. ... show more

August 20, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 224: Finance Friday: Paid-Off House Peace of Mind vs. Investing Opportunity

Making too much money is a good problem to have, and it’s one that many people in the Bay Area experience. Today we talk to Laurin, a mother of two, making $281,000 a year when combining her salary wi th her husband’s. They’re doing everything right: paying off the mortgage, contributing to their 401(k)s, and saving up for an emergency reserve. With all these investments and income, Laurin is wondering whether or not her investing strategy is optimized. Her mortgage spans 15 years, so she’s dedicating a large amount every month to pay off her house before she retires. While some people prefer the financial security of not having a mortgage, others (like Scott), prefer having a mortgage for longer while investing in other assets. With the goal of enjoying her life more, Scott and Mindy bring up a handful of options that can help Laurin achieve a massive net worth by the time she is ready to retire. She could work less and contract more, she could refinance and invest for cash flow, she could look into real estate investing, all while she’s setting up a massive nest egg for herself upon retirement! ... show more

August 16, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 223: How ‘The Rich Immigrant’ Went from $10/Hour to Wealthy Globetrotter

Dee Olateru doesn’t have the traditional FI story, but it didn’t take her long to catch onto the concepts that now allow her to live a life exactly how she sees fit. Dee immigrated to the United State s from Nigeria when she was sixteen. Without the ability to get student loans, Dee had to work throughout school, apply for every scholarship available, and borrow money from friends and family to pay for her undergrad degree. While she made it out of college without student debt, she still had some credit card debt that needed taking care of. She amassed $10,000+ in credit card debt to help her pay for necessities like groceries throughout her years in college. But now she had a business degree, so clearly, she went on to get a full-time job in her field, right? Actually, she didn’t. Dee graduated during the great recession and had to take a $10/hour job at a local factory. Dee says that many people don’t believe her about the factory job because of the high-level position she’s in now, but it taught her many valuable lessons. As Dee made more and more money, she started looking into finance blogs to see where she should be saving and investing. For the better part of a decade, Dee has been maxing out her Roth IRA, 401(k), and investing in individual accounts, all while she travels around the world! ... show more

August 13, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 222: Finance Friday: Are You Too Over-Diversified In Your Investments?

Investments galore! This week, we talk to Jeana and Scott, a couple with a hefty amount of investments under their belt. We know what you’re thinking, “what type of stocks and real estate are they inv esting in?” This is where you might be surprised. Jeana and Scott are investing in three gyms, a gas and oil investment, a documentary, a 24-unit apartment building, a 52-unit apartment building, a senior care business, and...a $20,000 dog! Seriously! This is one of the most diversified couples we have ever had on the show! While it’s great to have investments spread out over multiple different asset classes, Scott and Mindy want to help the couple come up with a more systematized and formulaic approach to wealth building. Since they both have well-paying jobs, once they set up a “set it and forget it” type investment strategy, they won’t be too far away from reaching FI. If you’ve ever had an interest in running a memory care facility, dog breeding, or investment clubs, this will be a great episode to listen in on! ... show more

August 9, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 221: Hard Decisions Leading to a $170k Debt Payoff (During Covid)

Darius Smith always knew how to make money, but wasn’t very good at saving it. Growing up, he had jobs ranging from delivering phone books, to running paper routes, to even putting up eviction notices on homes. He opened his first bank account when he was around nine years old! So how did Darius end up with almost $170,000 in debt? An even better question may be, how did Darius pay off all that debt in only a few years? Darius spent time at multiple different colleges, racking up $40,000 in student debt, then buying a Mustang, paying for a wedding, putting some charges on credit cards, and finally combining his wife’s debt with his. They started to use the “debt snowball” method, but after having to take out business loans, the debt grew even more. This is when Darius decided that he and his wife needed a plan to conquer their finances. They moved into a friend’s extra room for cheaper rent, stopped going out as much, began working more than one job, and siphoned all the money they could into savings and debt payoff. As of July 2021, they are debt-free! ... show more

August 6, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 220: Finance Friday: How Do I Scale My Business But Reduce My Hours?

Entrepreneurs work long, stressful hours, and as a result, they get paid the big bucks. This is the position that Stephanie, a freelance Salesforce consultant is in. She makes a respectable income, br inging in $14,000 after tax! But, that income comes at a cost. While Stephanie is currently contracting out work to a few part-time employees, she spends at least 50 hours per week on the business. She’d like to get to a point where she can step back and work 20 (or so) hours per week and have a systematized and growing business. She’s financially in a great place, with more than three years of expenses saved in cash, so she can take more risks with her business. If you’re growing your own business, rental portfolio, or side-income stream, you may be in Stephanie's position in the future. Stick around to hear exactly what Scott (an active CEO) would do if he was in her shoes. ... show more

August 2, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 219: Syndications: Everything You Need to Know BEFORE You Invest

You may have heard the term “real estate syndication” thrown out quite a lot over the past few years. It seems like almost every real estate investor is either starting a real estate syndication or in vesting in one. So what’s all the hype about? Is this an investment opportunity that you’re missing out on, and if so, is it truly passive as many people claim? We’ve brought the master flipper, rehab estimator, and syndicator himself, J Scott, back to the BiggerPockets Money Podcast so he can share some information (and advice) on real estate syndications. J walks through a handful of points worth examining before investing in syndications. We talk about what a real estate syndication is, where to find syndications, how to validate the syndicators themselves, what a limited partner is, what a general partner is, and more. The most valuable part of this entire episode is about researching the syndication deal itself. Where is it located, what is the structure, who’s running it? These are all questions you should ask, along with some other key questions like: What is the team’s track record, reputation, experience? What is the location, risks, population size, employment, wage growth? On the deal, what do the returns look like, what are the big risks? Do they have an investor presentation? What’s the minimum investment? Are there capital calls? How do they deal with capital calls? Have they required capital calls in the past? What are their accreditation requirements? Can you get better terms in exchange for a larger investment? How frequent are the distributions? Quarterly, monthly, yearly? When will distributions start? Will they be doing a cost segregation study? What fees are they receiving? When will they give updates? Monthly, quarterly? Can you invest using a 1031 or an IRA? ... show more

July 30, 2021

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 218: Finance Friday: How to Plan for Inconsistent Income as an Entrepreneur

Combining finances can be complicated, but what’s even more complicated is combining one salary with two inconsistent business accounts. How do you manage the household’s budget when you don’t know wh at will be coming in every month? This is the question Roshan and her husband have for us today. Roshan works as a teacher making a very steady income and has access to retirement plans like her pension and a 457(b). Her husband, on the other hand, runs a seasonal flower business that brings in $30,000 in only five weeks, and an ecommerce store with a bit more consistent income. Together, they want to develop a formula that will help them plan for early retirement, while also being able to take some risks and reinvest in their businesses. Scott and Mindy not only walk through the regular finance aspects like spending, retirement planning, and saving, but also more relationship-based financial aspects like having money dates, keeping a shared budget, and having a retirement plan that works with your family’s lifestyle. ... show more

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BiggerPocket Money Podcast 234: Finance Friday: From “We Can’t Retire” To Retiring Early in 5 Years

BiggerPockets Money

Previous Episodes

BiggerPocket Money Podcast 233: How to Financially Plan for 2 Special Needs Family Members

BiggerPocket Money Podcast 232: Finance Friday: What Would You Do With an Extra $100k Per Year?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 231: 'On the Road' to FIRE: The Massive Financial Benefits of Van Living

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 230: Finance Friday: In My Mid-50s, Do I Have Enough to Retire Next Year?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 229: The 6 Money Mistakes High School/College Students MUST Avoid

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 228: Finance Friday: Is “Random Spending” Ruining Your Budget?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 227: ‘Rocketing' To FI at Age 35: What’s Life Like Post-Retirement?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 226: Finance Friday: Is Your Cash Losing Value While You Wait to Invest?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 225: From $52K in Debt to $100K/Month in (Almost) Passive Income

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 224: Finance Friday: Paid-Off House Peace of Mind vs. Investing Opportunity

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 223: How ‘The Rich Immigrant’ Went from $10/Hour to Wealthy Globetrotter

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 222: Finance Friday: Are You Too Over-Diversified In Your Investments?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 221: Hard Decisions Leading to a $170k Debt Payoff (During Covid)

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 220: Finance Friday: How Do I Scale My Business But Reduce My Hours?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 219: Syndications: Everything You Need to Know BEFORE You Invest

BiggerPockets Money Podcast 218: Finance Friday: How to Plan for Inconsistent Income as an Entrepreneur

BiggerPockets Money

Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Money

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