BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Wealth and health are closely intertwined, especially here in the US, where the high cost of healthcare can put significant financial pressure on families. But is there a remedy to these exorbitant expenses that Americans are missing? Stay tuned and well show you how to negotiate your medical billseven if youve reached FIRE!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Unpredictable healthcare costs keep many would-be retirees tethered to their nine-to-five jobs, but todays guest has a solution. Jared Walker founded Dollar For, a nonprofit organization that has helped erase over $83 million in medical costs for everyday Americans. How? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires many healthcare providers to offer a program that discounts costs for patients, so Jared and his team simply use it to negotiate peoples medical bills on their behalf.

High healthcare costs affect everyone, whether youre facing hardship, trying to reach financial independence, or already retired. In this episode, Jared will share tips anyone can use to minimize their healthcare costs and negotiate their own medical bills!

In This Episode We Cover How to negotiate and lower your medical bills (even if youre retired) Saving thousands on healthcare with this Affordable Care Act (ACA) program How to use cash payments as leverage when negotiating medical debt The healthcare hack that helps you spot erroneous or exorbitant charges The two best ways to proactively minimize healthcare costs And So Much More!



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Most people chasing FIRE (financial independence, retire early) are doing it all out of order, and it’s costing them years of financial freedom. So, we thought, “What’s the fastest way to achieve FIRE, and which steps would you take if you were starting from scratch?” Today, we’re bringing you a supercharged financial independence plan, sharing the exact financial order of operations that’ll take you from a $1,000 emergency fund to fully-fledged early retirement.

We know the steps because we’re reverse-engineering our own paths to financial independence, and we WISH we had done some of these earlier. If you’re a beginner in the FIRE movement, start here and work through these steps to FIRE the fastest. If you’re close to FIRE already or at a significant financial milestone, don’t worry. We have tips you can use right now to retire earlier and avoid the “middle-class trap” that kills so many FIRE dreams.

We’re going through retirement accounts, emergency funds, cash-flowing investments, and side hustles to help you earn more. Plus, what to do once you make TOO much money to invest in tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

In This Episode We Cover The exact financial order of operations to reach financial independence fastest  The bare minimum emergency fund you should have in your bank account at all times  How to calculate your FIRE number in five seconds so you know your goal What to do when you make TOO much money to invest in a Roth IRA When to STOP investing in retirement accounts to avoid the middle-class trap Moves to make as soon as you’re retired early that’ll make your FIRE last even longer  And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-632

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We’re coming off one of the wildest weeks in stock market history. How are retirees reacting to these massive swings? How should you adjust your FIRE portfolio in case there are even more turbulent times ahead? We’re chatting with someone who’s in the loop! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Today, Emma von Weise, certified financial planner (CFP), returns to the show to give her perspective on the recent stock market volatility. She’ll share what her clients are doing and the course of action she recommends for those who are worried about their nest egg crumbling. Times like these prove you need an investment plan. If you don’t already have one, Emma will show you how to create it. You’ll also learn how a few years of cash distributions can help you protect your investments and keep you from selling stocks at a loss. Are bonds actually a “safe haven” for investors? We’ll make sense of rising yields and, finally, share a tax strategy YOU can take advantage of during a stock market slide to trim your taxable income!

In This Episode We Cover How to adjust your FIRE portfolio after recent stock market volatility How cash distributions protect retirees from selling stocks low in a downturn Why you need to create an investment plan today (if you don’t have one!) How to balance “growth” and “safety” in your investment portfolio Why bond yields have spiked after a huge sell-off (and whether you should buy) Offsetting capital gains from stocks through tax-loss harvesting 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: [email protected] Email Scott: [email protected] BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Follow BiggerPockets Money on Instagram “Like” BiggerPockets Money on Facebook Subscribe to the BiggerPockets Money YouTube Channel! Get $100 Off Your Ticket to BPCon2025 BiggerPockets Money 120 - Are FIRE Naysayers Bad at Math? Yes. with Michael Kitces “A Guided Meditation for When the Stock Market Is Dropping” Emma’s LinkedIn Fine-Tune Your FIRE Portfolio with “Set for Life” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Money Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 120 - Are FIRE Naysayers Bad at Math? Yes. with Michael Kitces Connect with Carl



Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-631

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Early retirement in your 50s is a dream for most Americans, but today’s guest is sharing how she could have retired in her 40s, a decade earlier, if she had avoided these FIRE “traps.” Yes, it IS possible to FIRE in your 40s even with much of your money in retirement accounts. “But I thought you couldn’t take out that money until you’re 59.5?” That’s where you’re wrong, and today, Diana Hummel is showing YOU how to withdraw from your retirement accounts even earlier.

In her mid-30s, Diana had a huge wake-up call. Her parents, who had just retired, suddenly passed away. This lit a flame that would eventually ignite a full FIRE under Diana to live life on her terms well before the standard retirement age. She and her husband saved diligently, invested heavily, and were able to quit their jobs at 45, starting two businesses, one of which broke even while the other turned a profit.

The problem? Diana most likely had enough money to retire once she quit her W2, but she didn’t realize she could FIRE so early. Thanks to Roth conversions, 72(t) strategies, and smart tax planning, Diana is fully retired and ready to teach you how to FIRE faster!

In This Episode We Cover How to withdraw from retirement accounts early and FIRE in your 40s or 50s  The 72(t) strategy explained and using your 401(k) to retire early (seriously!)  Early retirement healthcare and how Diana is covering it with pre-existing conditions  Retiring during a stock market crash and how new retirees can handle 2025’s bumpy market  The biggest FIRE regret Diana has and a lesson you should learn before you retire (early) And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-630

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Is it possible to reach FIRE by 45, even on a teacher’s salary or an average income? Today’s guest is proving that, yes, you can retire early, regardless of your paycheck. It may be a little harder than it is for high-income earners, but with frugality, discipline, and smart investments, regular people can achieve FIRE! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! At just 31 years old, Kat has been diligently maxing out her retirement accounts, saving a ton of cash, and making enormous strides towards retiring by age 45. Most would say this is a long shot for someone with a teacher’s salary, but thanks to a high savings rate and savvy financial decisions, Kat is right on track to reach her lofty goal. The real question is, should she? Kat will need to grind for the next 15 years to retire on her original timeline. Is it worth taking an extra couple of years to reach financial independence if it prevents burnout? In this episode, Mindy and Amberly will break down Kat’s options, help her avoid the dreaded middle-class trap, and give her a roadmap for achieving FIRE quickly while also enjoying the journey!

In This Episode We Cover Kat’s roadmap to FIRE by age 45 (on a teacher’s salary!) Why you DON’T need to be a high income earner to retire early When to stop contributing to retirement accounts and pivot to other investments Giving yourself financial flexibility by saving cash (and how to deploy it) When you should (and shouldn’t) pay off your mortgage early Why it’s worth taking extra time to enjoy the journey to financial independence 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: [email protected] Email Scott: [email protected] BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group Follow BiggerPockets Money on Instagram “Like” BiggerPockets Money on Facebook Subscribe to the BiggerPockets Money YouTube Channel! The Simple Path to Wealth The Fioneers Coast FI Calculator FIRE Faster with the Book, “Set for Life” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Money Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 259 - Pensions 101: Are Pensions Worth It? w/ Grumpus Maximus Connect with Amberly

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-629

Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices