Financial Literacy and Mastering the Million Dollar Decisions | Paul Merriman | 132
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Release Date: 04/02/2025
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 ...
info_outlineCatching 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...
info_outlineCatching 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...
info_outlineCatching 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_outlineCatching 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 to spread the message that it's never too late to start. In this episode he shares: The messy, shame-to-FI journey that inspired Catching Up to FI His three-step "Pause-Plan-Pivot" playbook His trademark mix of candor, nerdy humor, and high-five optimism 🌐 🔗 ☕ 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 ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM...
info_outlineCatching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
George Kinder is the pioneering mind behind Life Planning and founder of the Kinder Institute. He joins us for the second half of our enlightening conversation about the essence of financial freedom from last week. George is best known as the Father of Life Planning and creator of The Three Kinder Questions that probe deeper into our hopes, dreams, and fears. This episode brings you: The real meaning behind the Kinder Questions A little live therapy session with Bill & Jackie as they share thier answers to the Kinder Questions The EVOKE life‑planning process...
info_outlineCatching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
In part one of this enlightening two-part series, we are joined by George Kinder, founder of the Kinder Institute. He’s best known as the Father of Life Planning and creator of The Three Kinder Questions that probe deeper into our hopes, dreams, and fears. In this episode we discuss: The essence of financial maturity The profound practice of living in the present moment to achieve true freedom The power of envisioning meaningful goals and the practical steps to integrate them into your financial planning Tips to embark on your own hero's journey towards financial and personal fulfillment ...
info_outlineCatching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Today on the show we welcome Janine Firpo, an accomplished speaker, author, and social entrepreneur, dedicated to empowering women through values-aligned investing. She has a relentless drive to make a difference and poured it all into her book, 'Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World'. In this episode, you will learn: How Janine transitioned from a lucrative career in big tech to impact investing The importance of aligning financial goals with social values How to integrate ethical considerations into your investment portfolio Practical steps you can take to...
info_outlineCatching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
In this episode, Bill & Jackie joined Doc G (Jordan Grumet) on the 'Earn & Invest Podcast' to talk about what it feels like to be a late starter in these uncertain times. Questions about a recession are looming and it's scary, especially for those just waking up and trying to catch up. They discuss the ups and downs and how late starters can still stay on track. 🔗 ☕ 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 === DEALS AND DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED...
info_outlineCatching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Amy Minkley is the founder of FI Freedom Retreats, a passion project that was born out of her love and gratitude for the F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement and community. In this episode, she shares her journey to achieving financial independence (FI) while living in Bali, Indonesia. Amy gives us a glimpse into her lavish yet affordable lifestyle, spending only $30k a year. She details her frugal upbringing, early teaching career in Japan, and subsequent well-paid international teaching positions that allowed her to save aggressively. The episode also highlights Amy's...
info_outlineApril is Financial Literacy Month, and to help us celebrate we brought in a returning guest, Paul Merriman. Paul has been on the show before to discuss investment portfolios, but today he talks with us about some extraordinary strides he's making as a financial literacy advocate through his nonprofit, The Merriman Financial Education Foundation. We also share some of our favorite financial literacy resources.
☕ 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. With Boldin, you can:
✅ Track your savings
✅ Get personalized retirement advice based on your goals
✅ Explore investment options to grow your wealth
✅ And create a strategy that’s built for your unique needs
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:
Merriman Financial Literacy Program at Western Washington University
The John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy
‘Catching Up to FI’ Episodes:
We're Talking Millions! Part 1 | Paul Merriman | 008
We're Talking Millions! Part 2 | Paul Merriman | 009
Celebrating Financial Literacy Month with Next Gen Personal Finance | Tim Ranzetta | 072
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you!
⚠️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.