Shopping Hacks For The Holidays | Trae Bodge | 183
Catching Up to FI: Financial Independence for Late Starters
Release Date: 12/07/2025
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 He walks us through how that outdated 'retire from work and fade away' script clashes with modern 50- and 60-somethings who still have health, curiosity, and huge ambitions.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_outlineTrae Bodge is one of the country’s leading smart-shopping and personal-savings experts. You’ve probably seen her on CNBC and Good Morning America, or in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, and MarketWatch. She joins us on the show for a holiday-season intervention on spending, shopping, and gift-giving. Trae also shares news about her, mom-inspired Threadneedle Alley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants and guidance to midlife entrepreneurs facing financial challenges. Through Dec. 31, 2025, entrepreneurs ages 40 and up can apply for a $5,000 grant and ongoing mentorship .
🎁 🎁 🎁A Special Gift from our friend... The Mad Fientist (only through Dec 10th)
Brandon Ganch's (aka The Mad Fientist) is one of the early pioneers of the FI Movement and has shared his knowledge and brilliant resources with millions of people for over a decade. He will be featured on our holiday episode (releasing on 12/21/25). This holiday season he has a brand new beta software called Wealthmachines.co, a complete system designed for financial independence that focuses on your assets and the income they generate. Even though he's brilliant at developing software, his real passion is music, and he has a new album coming out with a juicy offer! Until December 10th, he is gifting early access to you before it goes to a monthly subscription when you purchase his new album. Here's how you can support his passion and get his software:
- Preorder his brand new EP Album for $4.99 before December 10th on Amazon Music (or other music retailers) and follow him on Spotify (help him get to 1000 subscribers)
- Send a copy of the receipt to fi@madfientist.com
- Go to Wealthmachines.co and click the "Get Access" link in the top right corner to get free access. Note: The public release won't be until 2027, but you'll be able to start using it as soon as it's ready. Also, you will NOT need to pay an annual fee once the app becomes publicly available (the annual fee will be more than the EP's cost, every single year)!
DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS:
🆕NEW PARTNER: Monarch Money
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 – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link and entering code: CATCHINGUP50
The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer).
For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners
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Charity: Threadneedle Alley
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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.