The 4% rule might be dead—but not for the reason you think. New research suggesting a 5.5% safe withdrawal rate has been making waves in the FI community, and it sounds like great news for early retirees. The problem? The math doesn't hold up when you're planning for a 50-year retirement instead of 30. Brad introduces a new ChooseFI feature where community q ... Show More
Apr 20
595 | Value Matrix Case Study Series: Part 2 — Required Bloat
Most people trying to slash their budget hunt for obvious waste—daily lattes, unused subscriptions, impulse purchases. But what happens when you've already cut the fat and your highest expenses are the ones you can't seem to touch: the mortgage, the car payment, the daycare bill? ... Show More
56m 34s
Apr 6
Book Club: 'Goodbye, Things' with Liz Gets Loaded | Ep 593
Episode Show Notes Episode Summary Ginger and Liz from Liz Gets Loaded explore Fumio Sasaki's book, "Say Goodbye to Things," discussing the principles of minimalism and their impact on emotional well-being and lifestyle choices. They share personal insights and practical tips on ... Show More
1h 11m
Oct 2025
234: Retirement Confidence in Focus: How Savers Navigate Volatility and Change
<p>Retirement confidence is under pressure. While younger generations are entering the workforce with optimism, the latest Read on Retirement report reveals troubling gaps between savers, plan sponsors, and retirees. Only 38% of employers believe their employees are on ... Show More
19m 46s
Aug 2024
Q&A: The Unintended Consequences of Early Retirement
#529: Anonymous, 60, recently lost her job and is worried about retirement. She owns a paid-off triplex, living in one unit and renting the others for $30,000 a year. She used her 401(k) funds to buy the triplex and now has $50,000 in retirement savings and $150,000 in cash. She ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 2024
560: Dude ACTUALLY Withdraws From His 401(k) and Retires at 47
Did you know you can use your 401(k) to retire early? Yep, it’s possible. And today’s guest, Eric Cooper, is doing it atage 47! Most FIRE chasers search for how to withdraw from a 401(k) early but know that doing so will hit them with substantial penalties. The best way around th ... Show More
46m 54s
Sep 2024
Don't Overlook These Crucial Parts of Your Retirement Plan
<p>Dan Lefkovitz, Morningstar Indexes strategist, explains how following the money can reveal how exposed your portfolio is to geopolitical risks. Christine Benz, Morningstar Inc director of personal finance, is the author of the new book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, S ... Show More
26m 23s
Aug 2025
Smarter Strategies for Retirement, Wealth Building, and Taxes with Michael Kitces
#243: Discover smarter strategies to grow your wealth and create financial flexibility. We dive into when it makes sense to invest beyond retirement accounts, how to access savings early through Roth conversions and 72(t) distributions, ways to reduce taxes with HSAs, tax-advanta ... Show More
59m 45s
Sep 2024
How to Retire: Stay Flexible with Your Retirement Spending
<p>Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with senior nerd ... Show More
19m 6s