BiggerPockets Money Podcast

• Finance Friday: Chasing FIRE by 35 WHILE Supporting Extra Family Members

  Is something stopping your FIRE? Today’s guest wants to retire early at 35, but with a shaky budget, extra expenses, and a problematic rental property, her path to early retirement isn’t clear. In today’s episode, we’ll break down her finances and help her get back on track! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Sarah earns a great salary and diligently saves for retirement each month. You’d think she’s on pace to leave her W2 job in a few years, but there’s one problem—she has more expenses than the average person. Financially responsible for two extra family members, Sarah pays for their mortgage, food, and lifestyle, all while covering her own expenses! Does Sarah’s financial situation need a major shake-up? Tune in as Scott and Mindy debate whether it’s time for Sarah to part with a property that’s bleeding money, strategize about when to put it on the market, and discuss what to do with the money from the sale. We’ll also touch on the tough conversations Sarah needs to have with family members if she wants to achieve her retirement goal! In This Episode We Cover The three things Sarah must do to achieve her goal of FIRE by 35 How to reach your financial goals despite extra expenses What to do with a rental property that has negative cash flow The BEST time to put an investment property on the market How to budget for future children (family planning 101!) 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 BiggerPockets Money YouTube Channel Find Investor-friendly Tax and Financial Experts Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Achieve FIRE with Scott’s Book, “Set for Life” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Money Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 12 – How to Become an “Overnight” Success in 10 Short Years with David Greene Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-609 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

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• CPA Shares Tax Tips to Lower Your 2024 (Yes, 2024) Taxes

  2024 may be long gone, but it’s NOT too late to lower your taxes for the previous year. If you have real estate or retirement accounts, you already hold the key to minimizing your taxable income and owing less to Uncle Sam. But how do you do it? We’re sharing 2024 and 2025 top tax reduction strategies in today’s show with expert CPA and real estate investor Amanda Han! Do you know about the real estate tax “loophole” that helps everyday investors cut their taxable income by tens of thousands? Got an employer-contributed retirement plan? You could STILL use it to lower your 2024 taxes! And why should you NOT take the standard deduction if you’ve bought a home in the past few years? We’re answering all of these questions so you can keep more of your hard-earned money. Finally, what audit red flags is Amanda seeing with her clients? There’s one easily avoidable audit trap that MANY Americans are falling into that could take just minutes to circumvent. Should we even be talking about income taxes if President Trump plans to eliminate them? Amanda, Mindy, and Scott are sharing their opinions on whether this will reach fruition. In This Episode We Cover How to save on your 2024 tax bill and moves to make before Tax Day 2025  The easily avoidable audit red flag that Amanda has seen spike lately  The real estate tax deduction that could save those earning $150K or less tens of thousands Most commonly missed tax write-offs that many Americans can take but forget about  Will President Trump abolish income taxes during his second term? Whether to pay your estimated taxes OR invest instead and take the interest hit  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 BiggerPockets Money YouTube Channel Find Investor-friendly Tax and Financial Experts Buy Amanda’s Book, “The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Tax Audit Tips Connect with Amanda (00:00) Intro (00:56) You Can STILL Save on 2024 Taxes (05:54) Lowering Your Taxable Income (10:27) You Can STILL Contribute for 2024! (14:22) Estimating Your Taxes (16:22) Itemizing vs. Standard Deduction (18:21) Commonly Overlooked Write-offs (21:41) Audit Red Flags! (23:06) Will Tax Rates Rise or Fall? (28:03) Opportunity Zones Have Changed (31:08) How to Prepare for 2024/2025 (35:15) Connect with Amanda! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-608 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

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  47:48
• Has the FIRE Formula Changed? Why 100% Index Funds Isn’t the Answer

  Is a 100% index fund portfolio no longer the FIRE formula? The market has changed, and maybe your portfolio allocation needs to change with it. With index funds at all-time-high prices and price-to-earnings ratios at an eye-watering 29, you might be feeling a bit worried about whether your FIRE will last or you’ll even make it to FIRE in the first place. You’re not crazy; Scott is feeling the same way, too. Recently, Scott decided to make a move much of the FIRE community would protest—he sold 40% of his index fund portfolio to reallocate to real estate. Why did he do it now, even as a strong index fund believer? On the other hand, why is Mindy sticking with her stock and index fund portfolio, ready to ride out whatever potential market downturn could be coming our way? Scott explains, in detail, why real estate is a better choice for him at the moment, the reason prudent FIRE chasers should question the conventional wisdom of a 100% index fund portfolio, and why his new rental property could act as a hedge against a significant market downturn. If Scott is selling his index funds, should you?  In This Episode We Cover The historical price-to-earnings ratios making index funds a riskier bet  How holding 100% index funds could throw your FIRE off by a decade The optimal portfolio for retiring early on the four percent rule  Is real estate a safer bet than stocks in 2025? Real estate cash flow vs. selling stocks for income and why one is much easier to actualize  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 BiggerPockets Money YouTube Channel Personal Finance Club Get Early Access to Real Estate’s Biggest Event of the Year, BPCON2025 Get to FIRE Faster with “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Money 599 - The Macro Analysis is Clear: Why We Are Reallocating (Away From Stocks) to Real Estate in 2025   Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-607 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

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  39:15
• The Points Guy's Travel Hacking Tips to Fly for FREE in 2025

  Travel hacking allows you to fly and travel for free, often in luxury, without spending tens of thousands of dollars on flights or hotels. So, how do you do it without managing thirty different credit cards in your wallet? Brian Kelly, AKA The Points Guy, world-renowned travel hacking expert and author of the new book How to Win at Travel, is here to show you as we rapid-fire our top credit card rewards questions at him. In this show, you’ll learn how to fly to Europe, Asia, and beyond for FREE, even in business class, all by spending the same amount of money you typically would every month. These cards can turn your weekly grocery run into free flights, hotel stays, cashback, and more, plus give you huge perks like airport lounge access, travel protection, and even a credit to spend on your next trip. Love free money? This is how you get it. Plus, we’re asking The Points Guy what cards he has in HIS wallet, what he spends on which card, and why he does NOT recommend staying loyal to a specific airline, even if you travel often. These tips alone could save you thousands of dollars this year while turning your economy seat into a lie-flat first-class experience. Don’t let your money go to waste; start travel hacking! In This Episode We Cover How to travel for free by spending money on groceries, eating out, and business expenses The Points Guy’s three favorite credit cards that everyone should keep in their wallet Why you (probably) shouldn’t stay loyal to a specific airline, even if you have their credit card Why Chase points can get you even MORE free travel than American Express points Evaluating annual credit card fees and whether a $300+/year credit card is worth it Best credit cards for renters and those who live a frugal lifestyle (but still want to travel!) 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 Point.me Seats.aero Get Early Access to Real Estate’s Biggest Event of the Year, BPCON2025 Learn to Save and Spend the Right Way with “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Earn Free Vacations With Travel Rewards Credit Cards (00:00) Intro (01:39) Travel for FREE! (06:06) Best Credit Cards for Beginners (13:48) Annual Fees (17:56) Brian’s Favorite Credit Cards (20:51) Airline and Hotel Partner Cards (27:49) Keeping Track of Cards (29:34) Best First Card? (31:21) Cards for Low-Spenders (34:03) Inheriting Points? (36:52) WIN at Travel! (39:01) Get Your Points! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-606 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

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  48:32
• The 4% Rule Naysayers Are Wrong (We Retired at 47 Using It!)

  Does the four-percent rule actually work? On paper, yes. So why don’t more people put it to the test? Today’s guest retired at forty-seven years old and is living proof that the math really does check out. Stay tuned to find out how! Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Bobby Beck has done what so many in the FIRE community are seemingly unable to do—he actually retired on the four-percent rule! What’s more? He did it while living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive markets in the US. What gave him the confidence to leave his job and never look back? While “One More Year Syndrome” keeps many people from retiring early, Bobby’s mantra of “take a year” compelled him to take a leap of faith. Even though his retirement portfolio took a sixteen-percent hit right before he retired, he weathered the storm, and sure enough, the market rebounded! Now, Bobby lives the life people dream of when they discover FIRE. He has a comfy lifestyle, travels multiple times a year, and only checks his portfolio once a month. If you need the motivation to call time on your career and put your retirement date on the calendar, you don’t want to miss this episode! In This Episode We Cover How Bobby and his wife retired on the four-percent rule (at age 47!) Why the FIRE community overestimates how much they’ll owe in taxes How to beat “One More Year Syndrome” and actually retire early Growing your brokerage accounts and cash to avoid the middle-class trap The portfolio allocation that will give you the confidence to retire 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 Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Reach FIRE Faster Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Learn How to Retire Early with Scott’s Book “Set for Life” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number) (00:00) Intro (01:03) Retired at 47! (05:49) Bobby’s Portfolio (08:35) Real Estate Investments (17:05) Withdrawals & Tax Strategies (26:45) 100% Stock Portfolio (34:36) What Does Your Life Cost? (39:47) The 4% Rule Works! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-605 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

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  48:17

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