72(t) Expert Tells All: No More Secrets About Early Withdrawals (Part 1) | Bill Stecker | 131
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Release Date: 03/30/2025
Back to FI Basics: How to Start Your Journey to Early Retirement | ChooseFI Crossover | 194
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Strap in, because Jackie joins Brad Barrett for a crossover episode on the ChooseFI podcast, home of the world’s largest FI community! Together, they rewind all the way back to 2017, when Jackie first stumbled onto ChooseFI… and everything changed. She recounts her journey to reaching early retirement by December 2019, and using that freedom to go back to school, get her CFP, and write 'F.I.R.E. for Dummies'. Then the two of them dive deep into the fundamentals and break down what financial independence really means. They explain why even ten dollars a month can spark a lifelong investing...
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These New Rules Will Change The Way You Think About 529 Plans | Patricia Roberts | 193
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
529 plan expert Patricia Roberts blows up the myth that 'it's too late' and '529s are just for rich people with toddlers and Ivy League dreams'. She is author of the book 'Route 529' and shares some big changes with 529 plans that make them an incredibly flexible savings vehicle for more than just college. In this episode we cover: How state tax deductions, credits and 'parity states' work for contributions The shockingly long list of qualified uses including trade schools, apprenticeships, non-degree credentials, K–12 tuition, tutoring, test prep and even student loan repayment ...
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Why Your Financial Plan Will Fail (It's Not the Math) | Dan Haylett | 192
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Dan Haylett gives us a late-starter masterclass on why retirement is a human problem long before it's a math problem. Dan is a UK financial planner, creator of 'Humans vs Retirement' podcast, and author of 'The Retirement You Didn't See Coming'. He walks us through how that outdated 'retire from work and fade away' script clashes with modern 50- and 60-somethings who still have health, curiosity, and huge ambitions. In this episode he also: Reframes risk as the possibility of dying with plenty of money but too few memories Unpacks why spreadsheets never quite make us feel safe Lays out...
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The College Discount Game You Need To Know Before Choosing A School | Ron Lieber | 191
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
The cost of college is skyrocketing! To make sure you're not paying those sticker prices, we brought in New York Times 'Your Money' columnist, Ron Lieber. He is also author of 'The Price You Pay for College' and joins the show for a brutally honest walkthrough of what is actually going on behind the scenes. In this episode he breaks down: List price vs. cost of attendance Why most families don’t pay rack rate How to read a school’s 'Common Data Set' Merit vs. need-based aid How net price calculators and pre-reads can keep you from falling in love with a school you can’t afford ...
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Can AI Plan Your Retirement? Testing ChatGPT's Financial Advice | Earn & Invest Crossover | 190
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Bill joins Jordan 'Doc G' Grumet for a community episode on the Earn & Invest podcast. They stress-test what happens when someone asks ChatGPT: 'What should I do if I'm retiring in five years?' Bill talks about turning 60, being told he's officially reached financial independence, and shifting from accumulation to a more defensive, retirement-ready nest egg. DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS: The modern way to manage money! Monarch will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money –...
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Stop Paying for College and Use These High-Return Scholarship Hacks Instead | Chris Corinthian | 189
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Chris Corinthian is the 'Fin Lit Guy' and knows his way around scholarships and other high-return ways to earn money for college. He joins the show to give us a masterclass on paying for college without wrecking your retirement. Chris opens with his own financial setbacks, including a layoff and a devastating fire, which helped him realize the importance of financial literacy. In this episode, you will learn: Chris' Debt-free degree triangle How teens as young as 13 can earn free college credits His scholarship system that treats applications like a part-time job Specifics of where and how to...
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How Clutter Steals Your Time (And How to Get It Back) | Rose Lounsbury | 188
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Rose Lounsbury likes things simple. Her specialty is helping people embrace the art of decluttering and she joins us on the show today for a New Year's reset that goes way beyond junk drawers. Rose tells us how decluttering is really about creating space— for FI, for generosity, and for the surprising next chapter. After this episode you'll be ready for a clean start for 2026 as she walks us through: Her own minimalist journey that led her to getting rid of 70% of her stuff, while raising triplets! The generational scripts behind our clutter and how to fix it Why we should own our...
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Monarch Money Masterclass: How to Organize Your Financial Life | Rachel Lawrence | 187
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Happy New Year! As we roll into 2026, organizing money becomes top of mind and one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. So today on the show we have an expert with the leading money management app- Monarch Money, Rachel Lawrence. She is a Certified Financial Planner and fintech leader who works at the intersection of personal finance, behavior, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). She also runs her own fee-only financial planning firm called Reverie Wealth. In this episode Rachel gives us a masterclass on how to organize your financial life with Monarch's modern way to manage...
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Retired Before 50: A Look at Her Real Finances, Numbers & Strategy | Andy Panko Crossover | 186
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Catching Up to FI co-host, Jackie Cummings Koski crosses over to Andy Panko's 'Retirement Planning Education' podcast for a funny, deeply practical masterclass on what FIRE really is (and what it isn't). Jackie is single-mom late-starter, FIRE for Dummies author, and "I retired but I'm still busy" money nerd. She rewinds her journey of retiring before 50 and walks Andy (and listeners) through: How she hit a ~$1M FI number with ~$40K annual spending Managing healthcare premiums by understanding how ACA subsidies really work Tapping her pre-tax IRA before 59.5 using 72(t) without blowing...
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He's Back! Peek Inside The Mad Fientist’s Post-FI Life & His Struggle to Spend | Brandon Ganch | 185
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
The Mad Fientist (Brandon Ganch) is an OG, pioneer, and giant in the Financial Independence (FI) movement! It took us a while to get him on the show, but he finally joins us for this very special holiday catch-up. Brandon is a software developer and strategically put those skills to work in creating the popular Mad Fientist blog & podcast. He's best known for deep dive experiments on tax optimization, early access to retirement funds, and other brilliant FI strategies. Now a family man with a wife and two kids, Brandon rarely does interviews these days. But today you will get a rare...
info_outlineOne of the most frequent questions we get about retiring early is: 'How do I get money out of my retirement accounts before age 59.5, without paying the 10% penalty'? This episode answers that question and more with CPA and 72(t) expert, Bill Stecker. Bill is the founder of The Marble Group which specializes in federal income taxes and early retirement distributions. He's also the brilliant mind behind the website '72tcalc', hands down the most comprehensive resource we've found specifically focusing on 72(t)s. Cohost Jackie knows because she set up her own substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP) using IRS rule 72(t) in 2024 and will share some details of her first-hand experience.
If you've been fearful and confused about how 72(t)s work, fear no more! In this episode, we thoroughly break down everything you need to know in a way you've never heard before. We also discuss more than a dozen other ways the IRS allows you to legally avoid federal tax penalties for early withdrawals from your retirement accounts. To make sure we did this topic justice, we turned it into a 2-part series. This is part 1, and part 2 will be released next week; both packed with valuable insights and practical tips for anyone considering early retirement.
⚠️ Clarifications from this episode:
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RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Free consultation with Bill Stecker’s Firm- The Marble Group
email: themarblegroup@wispertel.net
Phone: (312) 361-0221
Jackie’s review of 72tcalc.com website
Most recent IRS list of exceptions to 10% tax penalty on early withdrawals
IRS Tax Code 72(t)- Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP)
IRS Single Life Table- Effective 1/1/2022
IRS website with the listing of recent interest rates (120% of Applicable Federal Midterm Rate)
Rule 72(t) Example- Eric Cooper
Rule 72(t) Example- Dare to Draw Down
📱72(t) CALCULATORS
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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.