Mile High FI Podcast

Doug chats with Amberly Grant (FinTalks) about how their views & mindsets around frugality have evolved and share recent spending decisions, especially around travel and “quality of life” purchases.  They discuss the changing psychology of spending as income grows and the practical value of “removing negatives” from life.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Guitar Accessories

Hiking & Outdoor

Essentials for Sleep

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

Links

Amberly Grant

EconoMe Conference

Nuuly (subscription clothing rental)

Rusty on MHFI episode 317

EconoMe Conference, “Carl Jensen: FI-Landia Is A Lie. What I Learned on My Journey to FIRE”

CampFI

EconoMe Conference, “James Lowery: How to Become a Lazy Landlord”

MHFI Facebook group

Doug’s site

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

1:13 Frugal roots & changing perspectives

7:06 Evolving spending habits

14:41 Delayed gratification purchases

20:12 Renting clothes & subscriptions

27:42 Fitness gear & gym memberships

36:11 Irrationality & sunk cost 

41:02 Finally buying a new couch

50:00 Recent value purchases

55:55 Travel & subscription audit

1:00:03 FinTalks

1:04:24 Soundcheck – EconoMe presentation

1:11:23 Preparation for giving a speech

1:16:59 Observations & tips

Doug continues his conversation with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement.  They discuss using debt responsibly, leveraging home equity & securities-backed lines of credit to maintain cash flow, navigating the complexities of post-retirement healthcare, and managing emotional & practical withdrawal strategies.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Guitar Accessories

Hiking & Outdoor

Essentials for Sleep

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

Links

Email Rusty: [email protected]

Rusty on MHFI episode 270

Fit Rich Life episode 99

Elizabeth on MHFI episode 312

Fritz Gilbert on MFHI episode 315

Kevin Sebesta on MHFI episode 302

Mark Trautman on MHFI episode 313

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

MHFI Facebook group

Doug’s site

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

2:32 Mortgages, refinancing, HELOCs

9:18 Securities-backed line of credit

18:38 Healthcare after leaving work

24:23 ACA subsidy cliff

32:05 Withdrawal stress & strategies

40:03 Bucket strategy & a retirement paycheck
48:08 Donating to charity

55:06 Funding a 529 & legacy giving

1:02:45 Soundcheck – Beer

Doug chats with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement, emphasizing the critical distinction between “one more year syndrome” vs. a calculated final year and how working a little longer can lower withdrawal rates & reduce sequence-of-returns worry.  They compare quitting to being fired or laid off and highlight some potential benefits such as severance, possible unemployment, and employer healthcare continuation.  Rusty also shares some personal negotiation tactics when leaving a job.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Guitar Accessories

Hiking & Outdoor

Essentials for Sleep

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

Links

Email Rusty: [email protected]

EconoMe Conference

Sarah Jaffe, “Work Won’t Love You Back”

Kindle

Hardcover

Paperback

Audiobook

“Harlan County, U.S.A.” Movie

Rusty on MHFI episode 304

MHFI Facebook group

Doug’s site

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

2:37 Working one more year

9:19 Stock market risk & flexibility

15:13 Quiet Quitting playbook

23:28 Quitting vs. getting fired or laid off

30:41 Real-world cautionary tales

35:38 Tips for quitting & identity issues

43:02 New baby update!

51:51 Tales of a jacked math major

59:52 Soundcheck – Food

Doug and co-host Kristen Knapp chat with Fritz Gilbert (The Retirement Manifesto) at the EconoMe Conference about various drawdown strategies and spending in early retirement.  Fritz describes how he personally implements a “bucket strategy” approach to withdrawing money by setting up a monthly “paycheck”, how decumulation differs from accumulation, and explains sequence-of-returns, inflation, & longevity risks.  The group also discusses annual financial reviews, dynamic spending guardrails, viability of DIY investors, and intentional living.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Guitar Accessories

Hiking & Outdoor

Essentials for Sleep

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

Links

The Retirement Manifesto

Blog

“Our Retirement Investment Drawdown Strategy”

“Revisiting Our Drawdown Strategy After 3 Years of Retirement”

“Do You Really Need a Trust? And Other Estate Planning Questions Retirees Ask Most”

“How To Build A Bond Ladder”

Freedom for Fido

Website

Facebook

Fritz Gilbert, “Keys to a Successful Retirement”

Kindle

Paperback

Spiral-bound

FI Friends Travel

Big ERN/Early Retirement Now

MHFI Facebook group

Doug’s site

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To...

Doug chats with Mark Trautman (Mark’s Money Mind) about the relevance of The 4% Rule in modern retirement planning.  They explore whether it remains a solid “north star” for those in the accumulation phase or if it has become an outdated guideline that potentially hinders retirees from living their best lives.  Mark also shares his personal transition from a high-saver to a strategic retiree focused on decumulation & creating memory dividends.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Guitar Accessories

Hiking & Outdoor

Essentials for Sleep

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

Links

Mark Trautman/Mark’s Money Mind

David Chilton, “The Wealthy Barber”

Paperback

William Bengen, “A Richer Retirement”

Kindle

Hardcover

Audiobook

Audio CD

Retirement and IRA Show

Bill Perkins, “Die With Zero”

Kindle

Hardcover

Paperback

Audiobook

Big ERN on MHFI episode 280

Aubrey Williams, “Everyone Adjusts! Use Historical Analysis Risk-Based Guardrails to Reach FI Sooner!”

ProjectionLab

MHFI Facebook group

Doug’s site

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles