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Retirement Remix: Crafting Financial Futures with Purpose | Christine Benz | 117

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Release Date: 01/19/2025

Reached FIRE At 50👉🏻 And Here’s Why He Still Keeps Climbing | Darrow Kirkpatrick | 167 show art Reached FIRE At 50👉🏻 And Here’s Why He Still Keeps Climbing | Darrow Kirkpatrick | 167

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Darrow Kirkpatrick retired from a 29-year career in civil and software engineering in April 2011 at the age of 50 and started the blog 'Can I Retire Yet' that same year. The Blog was one of the first in the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) space and focuses on the personal finance needs of anyone who is thinking about retirement or early retirement. He joins us for a deeply human masterclass on retiring, drawing down without drama, and pursuing hard goals the slow, sane way. In this episode, Darrow shares with us: The origins of his blog 'Can I Retire Yet?' How a nervous...

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A Very Different Voice in Financial Planning | Jackie Cummings Koski | 166 show art A Very Different Voice in Financial Planning | Jackie Cummings Koski | 166

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

In this crossover episode, Jackie joins the 'Wicked Pissah Podcast’, brought to you by the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of New England. She trades in the Sunday sweatshirt for her CFP® blazer but still stays true to openly sharing her fascinating money story and spreading financial literacy. They discuss: The story behind her $2-bill savings habit The divorce-day gut punch that pushed her from $20k to FI Why she is so passionate about the 'Catching Up to FI’ platform and late starters How she demystifies FIRE for financial professionals  How she tackled the big skeptic...

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Borderless FI: The Happy KiwiSaver | Ruth Henderson | 165 show art Borderless FI: The Happy KiwiSaver | Ruth Henderson | 165

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Ruth Henderson is the creator of ‘The Happy Saver,’ a beloved New Zealand blog and podcast that brings personal finance down to earth. She transitioned from part-time work to full-time content creation, sharing her journey toward early retirement with honesty, humor, and heart. In this episode we swap notes with her on the financial independence journey of Americans vs. Kiwis (New Zealanders). She also shares with us: Her late starter journey to FI What inspired her to create 'The Happy Saver' to help everyday Kiwis reach FI A breakdown of New Zealand's surprisingly simple ecosystem...

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Tell Your Story With A Book, Here’s How | Azul Terronez | 164 show art Tell Your Story With A Book, Here’s How | Azul Terronez | 164

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Azul Terronez went from being an unknown schoolteacher to a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. He is co-founder and lead coach at “Authors Who Lead,” a platform dedicated to empowering authors to share their stories. He turns our conversation with him into a courage clinic for would-be storytellers, late starters, and anyone who suspects their "zone of genius" is dying to be unleashed. He gives us the reframe that authorship isn't about words so much as the message beneath them.    ===    PLUTUS AWARDS: ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO VOTE   === We...

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Late Starter Real Numbers: 1.5 M ➜ 864 K — And Back Again | J. C. & Bev Webber | 163 show art Late Starter Real Numbers: 1.5 M ➜ 864 K — And Back Again | J. C. & Bev Webber | 163

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

J.C. and Bev Webber's late-starter journey is proof that resilience + innovation can outrun even a Great Financial Crisis. J.C. gives us his real numbers and how he sprinted from a net worth of ~$120k (age 51) to $1.5M (age 57)—only to see it crash to ~$864k in early 2009. But that didn't derail their plans because he and his wife Bev still retired early and hit the road in their RV. You could say they reached FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) before it was hot! In this episode they walk us through all the twists and turns, giving us the excruciating details that you rarely hear...

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From Silent Majority to Visible Voices | Bill & Jackie | 162 show art From Silent Majority to Visible Voices | Bill & Jackie | 162

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

In this midweek episode, Bill and Jackie join the 'The Visible Voices' podcast, hosted by Dr. Resa E Lewiss. We highlight the voice of late starters and discuss: The huge gap that 'Catching Up to FI' is filling and what we mean by the 'silent majority' How shock, regret, and money-trauma can become fuel Unique advantages you may have when beginning your financial independence journey later in life Why micro-steps (Kaizen-style) beat grand gestures every time   ===    VOTE FOR US: PLUTUS AWARDS  === We need your vote for the 2025 Plutus Awards! You can now vote...

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Case Study: The Real Numbers That Told Her She Could Quit her Job, Now! | Lisa B | 161 show art Case Study: The Real Numbers That Told Her She Could Quit her Job, Now! | Lisa B | 161

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

We ❤️ Case Studies! Nurse practitioner and mom of three, Lisa, opens up and shares what's in her wallet, and her heart. In this episode we dive into her fascinating late-starter story and financials. She was also this year's brave Case Study at the EconoMe conference and revealed all her numbers in front of a live audience to get crowd-sourced feedback in real time. What transpired afterwards was powerful- she quit her day job and handed in her clinical badge to enjoy a sabbatical she had been longing for! With a little help from some Boldin financial modeling and a Nectarine hourly...

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The $1,000 Gift From Jonathan Clements To 18-Year-Olds | Bill Bernstein & Christine Benz | 160 show art The $1,000 Gift From Jonathan Clements To 18-Year-Olds | Bill Bernstein & Christine Benz | 160

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Morningstar's Christine Benz and investing-history legend Dr. William Bernstein announces the Jonathan Clements "Getting Going on Savings" Initiative. In 2024, Jonathan was diagnosed with a terminal illness and decided to use the proceeds from a final book to kick-start a new program that will directly help fund Roth IRAs for young adults (especially from low-income households) to the tune of $1,000 each. The John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is assisting with the project and 'Catching Up to FI' is proud to spread the word by replaying this conversation that...

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Forget the Corporate Ladder, Here’s How to Climb ‘The Wealth Ladder’ | Nick Maggiulli  | 159 show art Forget the Corporate Ladder, Here’s How to Climb ‘The Wealth Ladder’ | Nick Maggiulli | 159

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Nick Maggiulli is the data-driven creator of the blog 'Of Dollars And Data', Chief Operating Officer at Ritholtz Wealth, and author of the newly released book 'The Wealth Ladder'. He joins us on the show to break down his six-level wealth ladder and openly shares some of his steps and missteps as he moved up on his own wealth-building journey. In this episode, we discuss these financial insights he shared in the book: Six Wealth Levels (<$10 K to $100 M+) 0.01 % Daily-Growth Spending Rule Grocery / Restaurant / Travel Freedom progression Cookie-cutter asset allocation across ALL accounts...

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Keeping Up With The Joneses | Bill Yount | 158 show art Keeping Up With The Joneses | Bill Yount | 158

Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters

Bill hops onto Jesse Cramer's 'Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors' (formally The Best Interest) podcast. Along with some of our favorite content creators, he shares his crazy spending screw ups-- and the life lessons that followed. Stories from:  Bill Yount (Catching Up to FI) Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance For Long-Term Investors) Diania Merriam (EconoMe Conference & Optimal Finance Daily)  Justin Peters (FI Minded, formally The Struggle is Real) Jordan (Doc G) Grumet (Earn & Invest) Joe Saul-Sehy (Stacking Benjamins) Jeremy Schneider (Personal Finance Club)  ...

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More Episodes
In this episode we welcome back Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. Christine is one of the most respected thought leaders on the topic of retirement and shares insights from her new book, 'How to Retire'. We discuss the importance of preparing for retirement well in advance, building social networks, the significance of diversity in relationships, and more. Today's show is packed with valuable advice and a must listen for anyone approaching or in retirement. 
 

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Resources mentioned on the show: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

🌐 Morningstar

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The Long View

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Bogleheads Conference 2023 - Jordan Grumet on Living without Regrets

bogleheads.org

 

Catching Up to FI Episodes mentioned:

The Life and Death of The 4% Rule | Christine Benz | 077

Social Security Made Simple | Mike Piper | 054

Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk | Cameron Huddleston | 048

How to Think About Money | Jonathan Clements | 040

Purpose, Identity, & Connection | Jordan Grumet | 022

Hard & Soft Sides of Retirement | Fritz Gilbert | 019

Say Cheese!: The Retirement Spending Smile | David Blanchett | 110

F-You Money Part 1 | JL Collins | 023

F-You Money Part 2 | JL Collins | 024

Pathfinders: Stories of Success and Financial Independence | JL Collins | 069

Pathfinders: Triumphs and Trials on the Road to Financial Independence | JL Collins | 070

Jennifer Rozelle (coming in February 2025)

 

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Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.