Once Upon a FI | Paul & Amanda Mollenkopf | 144
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Release Date: 05/25/2025
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
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
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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Do This To Simplify Your Next Financial Review... (Part 2) | Jon Luskin | 157
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Bogleheads favorite Jon Luskin, CFP® drops in for part 2 of his masterclass on embracing simplicity. He specializes in providing hourly advice to do-it-yourself investors and is a long-time advocate of simple, low-cost investing. In this second part he shares with us: Simple Investor Policy Statement (IPS) All-in-One Funds: target date and balanced/life-strategy funds as "default simple" solutions Disability, life, and (if appropriate) long-term care insurance This is the second part of a 2 part episode. === VOTE FOR US: PLUTUS...
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Do This To Simplify Your Next Financial Review ... (Part 1) | Jon Luskin | 156
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Bogleheads favorite Jon Luskin, CFP® drops in for a masterclass on keeping money moves “so dull they sparkle.” He specializes in providing hourly advice to do-it-yourself investors and is a long-time advocate of simple, low-cost investing. In this episode he shares with us: Why every late-starter’s to-do list should begin with an emergency fund and Social Security game plan before touching their asset mix How low fees—not “sexy” alts—make numbers grow His soup-to-nuts review (including insurance gaps, estate docs and Investor Policy Statement) How simplicity wins This is...
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Q&A: Tackling Listener Questions | Bill & Jackie | 155
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
You asked and we answered! In this episode we tackle listener questions with more than just a one-sentence response… we go deeper and give you answers with our thoughtful insights, ideas and considerations important to late starters. These are the questions we cover on today’s show: ✅ Bill’s costly mistake with whole-life insurance; what should you do instead? ✅ How does the $19,000 annual gift tax exclusion work? ✅ Do I have too much in cash as I’m approaching retirement? ✅ I’m new to investing and pay someone to manage my 401(k). I also want to start a Roth IRA, is...
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Learn This or Never Retire | Bill & Jackie | 154
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
On this mid-week episode we join the upbeat creators of 'Rebel Finance School', Alan and Katie Donegan, for a turbo-charged pep rally aimed at every late-starter who's ever whispered "it's too late for me." We kicked off the Donegans' free 10-week course that's helping thousands around the world on their journey to FI. 📩 NEW! 🌐 🔗 ☕ 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 OUR TRUSTED...
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Mini Retirements, Sabbaticals, Career Breaks- Yes Please! | Jillian Johnsrud | 153
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Jillian Johnsrud—mini-retirement evangelist, mother of five, and author of 'Retire Often'—returns to show us why pressing pause can be the ultimate career accelerator. In this episode she explains the three hallmarks of a bona-fide mini retirement and the three ways to snag one: 1️⃣ Negotiate a sabbatical 2️⃣ Slot it between jobs 3️⃣ Pounce when life throws an unexpected layoff or family crisis 📩 NEW! 🌐 🔗 ☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at 🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with...
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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...
info_outlineChildhood 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 and the Hare: A Race to Financial Independence
- The Odd Duckling: Finding the Like-Minded
- Jack and the Beanstalk: Magic Cards that Sprout Growing Debt
- The Boy Who Cried Wealth: A Lesson in Stealth Wealth
- The Three Little Pigs: Getting a Straw, Sticks or Bricks Mortgage
- Chicken Little: The Market is Falling
- A Spending Carol: The Spirits of Spending Past, Present and Future
- Oh, The Places You’ll Go: The Things that You’ll Do, with FI Community standing by You
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⏰ ‘Catching Up to FI’ Episodes
Enoughness: Your Life or Your Money | Vicki Robin | 95
Doña Quixote, Life Energy, and The Coming of Aging | Vicki Robin | 94
Sustainable FIlosophy with Mr. Money Mustache | Pete Adeney | 073
From Tech Stocks to Toilet Brushes: The Jensens' FI Journey | Mindy and Carl Jensen | 071
Pathfinders: Triumphs and Trials on the Road to Financial Independence | JL Collins | 070
Pathfinders: Stories of Success and Financial Independence | JL Collins | 069
Stories, Hacks, & Tribes | Brad Barrett | 021
Hard & Soft Sides of Retirement | Fritz Gilbert | 019
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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.