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
Late Start, Big Lessons: Early Regrets & Mistakes of a (FI)sician | Bill Yount | 152
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
On this mid-week episode, we're switching it up again. This time Bill joins the 'Finance for Physicians' podcast with host Daniel Wrenne, CFP®. In this vulnerable interview, Bill owns up to every late-starter mistake—credit-card splurges, 'free' advisors, and lifestyle creep after a twin-sized home upgrade. Then he slings real-world antidotes: pause-plan-pivot, backward budgeting, downsizing the McMansion, and letting Social Security's ‘inflation-proof annuity’ finish the job. Bill's best advice is that physicians should treat money like they treat medicine—learn the language,...
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Women And The Great Wealth Transfer | Cary Carbonaro | 151
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
In this episode we are joined by Cary Carbonaro, an award-winning author, and Certified Financial Planner™ with over 25 years of experience. Her specialty is empowering women to discover their unique path to financial independence. One thing we love the most about Cary is how radically transparent she is with her clients. Just call her the "Queen of Transparency" because she shares her tax return, investment portfolio and other parts of her financial life with them. In our conversation with her we discuss: The Great Wealth Transfer that she talks about in her latest book, 'Women and...
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Women Talk Taxes (Part 2) | Jackie Cummings Koski | 150
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
This mid-week episode is the recording of a session done with the smart women of the WE (Women Empowered) Wealth Collective, titled: What Every Woman Should Know About Minimizing Taxes in Retirement. ‘Catching Up to FI’ co-host and author of ‘F.I.R.E for Dummies', Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC®, continues through an easy to follow checklist of tax considerations in retirement. She demo-drives 72(t) and RMD calculators, live-shops the ACA site to score premium tax credits, and shows how Medicare surcharges work. Topics for the series include: Age-band tax checklist...
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The Godfather of FI Talks Fatherhood | JL Collins | 149
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Mention financial independence and one of the first names that come up is JL Collins, author of the bestselling book 'The Simple Path to Wealth'. In fact, he is affectionately known as the Godfather of FI. One million copies and 10 years after its original publication, JL back with a shiny new, revised and expanded edition... and it just hit the New York Times Bestseller list!!! We know you've heard and seen JL all over the place because he is a BIG deal. But we uncovered some intriguing facts about his life and career that isn't often talked about (we're just curious like that). Here are...
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Women Talk Taxes (Part 1) | Jackie Cummings Koski | 148
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Tax talk without the snooze-fest! This mid-week episode is the recording of a session done with the smart women of the WE (Women Empowered) Wealth Collective, titled: What Every Woman Should Know About Minimizing Taxes in Retirement. ‘Catching Up to FI’ co-host and author of ‘F.I.R.E for Dummies' Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®, AFC®, turns this insightful discussion into a masterclass on trimming Uncle Sam's tab at every phase of retirement. Jackie rewinds to her own FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey: the divorce-day "401(k) gap" that lit her savings rocket, supersizing...
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Hanging On In a Yo-Yo Economy | Sam Stovall | 147
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Wall Street has us all on edge right now, so we called in one of the smartest people we know when it comes to stock market to help us make sense of it all, Sam Stovall. Sam is CFRA's Chief Strategist and a market historian that knows his stuff! He joins us in this episode to discuss: What stock market history tells us about the shaky situation we're in today What tariffs really have to do with the stock market and economy The 'rebalance' rule Mid-term election tailwinds Where the federal reserve fits into all of this 📩 NEW! 🌐 🔗 ☕ Like...
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🥳Celebrating 1 Million Downloads- Thank You! | Bill & Jackie | 146
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
We just hit 1 Million Podcast Downloads... that puts us in the top 1% of podcasts world wide!!! And we have you to thank 💞 This is a special message from Bill and Jackie to everyone that helped the podcast grow to this level. We are so grateful for the support and looking forward to the next million downloads with our regular Sunday episodes and occasional pop-up episodes on Wednesdays. 🌐 🔗 📩 ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question ...
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Good Times with rich & REGULAR | Julien and Kiersten Saunders | 145
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
In this episode we are joined by Julien and Kiersten Saunders, co-creators of rich & REGULAR and authors of 'Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away'. What started as a blog in 2017 has grown into a multimedia powerhouse, all centered around their mission… to inspire better conversations about money. Hear why Julien walked out of corporate life before he had 'FU money,' and how Kiersten's Valentine's Day resignation collided with the pandemic. They also talk to us about: Their 15-year 'Cashing Out' career sprint The power of 'Money on the Table' (think Anthony Bourdain...
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Once Upon a FI | Paul & Amanda Mollenkopf | 144
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Childhood crushes can bloom into full-blown FI fairy tales, and Paul and Amanda Mollenkopf are living proof. They join us to tell their story and showcase the world premiere of Paul's first book, ‘Once Upon a FI.’ What started out as letters to his daughter grew into a delightful collection of short stories inspired by timeless classics and fables. The book is a refreshing approach to spreading the message of financial independence to even the youngest readers. The clever analogies using classic tales inspire valuable generational conversations around money and include: The Tortoise...
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Borderless FI: Australian Paramedic Healing Her Own Trauma | Tasch Rogers | 143
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Aussie paramedic-turned-life-coach Tasch Rogers joins us to unpack the head-on crash that shattered her body, her finances—and ultimately her limiting beliefs. After a 30-year career as a first responder, she had to leave it all behind and start over. She became intimately familiar with the effects of trauma and PTSD, having personally navigated through her own healing journey. Now as a life coach with expertise in holistic modalities and various other disciplines, she helps others using a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach. ***Trigger Warning: This episode includes...
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:
☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee"
🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question
=== THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR ===
📈 Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) is our newest sponsor! Boldin is retirement planning software that's like having a financial advisor at your fingertips. You can get started with the free version or choose the premium option (PlannerPlus) and get a 14-day free trial. Be sure to use this link to get started: Go.boldin.com/catchingup
For a full list of our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Free consultation with Bill Stecker’s Firm- The Marble Group
email: [email protected]
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.